BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Championship Sunday is set at the Gulf South Conference Men's & Women's Basketball Tournament. This year's event will have a distinct Mississippi Delta flair, as Delta State University's Lady Statesmen will face the Argonauts of the University of West Florida at 1 p.m. at Samford University's Pete Hanna Center.
Sunday's title game will be televised live on CSS-Sports and Cox Sports Southeast to over 76 million home across the country. ESPN3 and GSCSports.org will also provide online streaming to fans not in the coverage area.
Philip Tang will have the call on the Lady Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to tipoff with the DSU Alumni Association Court Report.
In David Midlick's second season as head coach, the Memphis, Tenn., native has guided the Lady Statesmen back to the GSC's title game for the first time since the 2010-11 season, a 73-62 loss to Arkansas Tech. Last season, DSU fell in the semifinals to eventual champion Alabama-Huntsville. That disappointment has been a catalyst for the Lady Statesmen to finish the year as champions of the league.
"We didn't finish last year in the GSC Tournament," Midlick said. "We didn't want to have that same feeling this year and our ladies were determined to play better here this year. West Florida is a quality opponent and we will have to play our best to win Sunday."
In Delta State's 22nd appearance in the title game, the Lady Statesmen are looking for its 16th Gulf South Conference Championship Sunday and the first since 2009 after defeating the University of Arkansas-Monticello 53-51 in overtime at Southaven's Desoto Civic Center.
The Lady Statesmen's 15 league titles are 11 more than the next closest league member. Arkansas Tech, who is no longer in the GSC, had four with Valdosta State and West Georgia having two each.
Sunday's matchup with UWF is the third this season against the Argonauts and the third time in GSC postseason play. DSU split with UWF this year, as each team won at home. Last year, the Lady Statesmen edged the Argonauts 61-58 in the first round of the GSC Tournament.
DELTA STATE APPEARANCES IN GSC CHAMPIONSHIP
Year Opponent/Result
1983 Valdosta State - L, 83-85
1986 Valdosta State - W, 87-69
1987 West Alabama - W, 93-53
1988 Jacksonville State - W, 98-69
1989 West Georgia - W, 77-72 OT
1992 West Georgia - L, 52-64
1993 Jacksonville State - L, 65-67
1995 Mississippi College - W, 86-64
1996 Central Arkansas - W, 86-68
1997 Valdosta State - W, 76-53
1999 Arkansas Tech - W, 63-59
2000 Arkansas Tech - W, 70-66
2001 Arkansas Tech - W, 60-52
2002 Arkansas Tech - W, 53-47
2004 Henderson State - L, 52-53 OT
2006 Henderson State - W, 64-53
2007 Arkansas Tech - W, 66-59
2008 Arkansas Tech - W, 80-61
2009 Arkansas-Monticello - W, 53-51 OT
2010 Arkansas Tech - L, 73-75 2OT
2011 Arkansas Tech - L, 62-73
