Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The two best teams in the Gulf South faced off for an epic dual to decide who was the top squad in 2013-14. The No. 1 seed Delta State took on the No. 2 seed West Florida in the GSC Championship game. West Florida upset the No. 1 seed and No. 15 team in the country Delta State University.

To set the stage, Delta State takes an extreme advantage in the postseason with a 53-11 overall record in the tournament, while West Florida is 13-5. This marks the 22^nd championship appearance for Delta State, and West Florida has only made it to the championship game once in the 1997-98 season, losing to Arkansas Tech 70-64. Side by side, Delta State has the 4-0 advantage head-to-head with West Florida since the inception of the tournament. The Lady Statesmen ended the season last year for the Argos when DSU defeated UWF in the quarterfinals 61-58.

Delta State leads the all-time series with West Florida 13-4, losing all four games at the UWF Field House. This season the two teams split the series in two intense battles with the total margin of victory at seven points. Delta State is on a one-game win streak against West Florida, handing UWF a 56-54 loss at Walter Sillers a week and a half ago.

Both squads traded baskets to open the game. Valiant defensive efforts on both sides saw a low score, 7-6 in favor of UWF, at the first media timeout, but West Florida's offensive rebounding gave them the slight advantage.

First Team All-GSC member Tessah Holt drained a three at the 14:10 mark, but senior Shanae Govan answered with a long two. Chadisty Hickman put the Lady Statesmen back within one when she nailed a three, but UWF's Holt answered right back with another three to put the score at 17-13, heading into the under twelve media timeout.

Delta State cut the lead to three with back-to-back jumpers from freshman Anissa Jackson. At the third media timeout, West Florida had the 20-17 advantage on four points off of four DSU turnovers.

The Green-and-White gained their first lead since the 18:13 mark when Chadisty Hickman found Becca Ruckes under the basket, leading the Argos 21-20.
Made free throws from Chelsey Rhodes and three buckets from West Florida notched the score at 26-23 with 3:51 to go in the half.

A runner from Rhodes and a Shanae Govan steal resulting in a fastbreak basket put the Lady Statesmen back within one of the Argos with 1:26 to go.

West Florida gained momentum in the last minute of the half but Shanae Govan's 18-footer spoiled a UWF 5-0 run. Delta State went into the locker room trailing the Argos 33-29.
Eight West Florida offensive rebounds and seven Delta States turnovers gave UWF the four-point lead at the half. Govan and Rhodes contributed eight points each in the first 20 minutes of play to lead the offense for DSU.

Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net to open the second half and then shots began to fall for West Florida as they went on a 4-0 run to start the first 3:15.

Only two Argo field goals and one Lady Statesman free throw were posted from the start of the second half to the first media timeout, putting the score at 37-30 in favor of West Florida.

A floater and jumper on consecutive possessions from Jackson quickly put DSU within three of UWF. Walton went 1-of-2 at the line, cutting the lead to two, 37-35 with 14:27 remaining in the contest.

With the lead back at five, the Blue-and-Green committed a foul, sending Chadisty Hickman to the line after the under eight media timeout. Hickman was 2-of-2 at the line, cutting the deficit back to three, 47-44.

The Blue-and-Green earned their largest lead of the game at the 5:35 mark, going up by nine over the Green-and-White.

Two quick unanswered baskets from Delta State set the score at 57-53 with 3:44 to go in the contest.

The momentum stayed with West Florida for the final score to lean in their favor 67-59, winning their first Gulf South Conference Championship in program history and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA South Region Tournament. Delta State earned the runner up position for the second time in four seasons.

The Argos outrebounded the Lady Statesmen 39-29 and scored 16 points off of 13 Delta State turnovers to take the win.

Sophomore guard and First Team All-GSC select Chelsey Rhodes led all scorers with 17 points. Shanae Govan joined her in double figures with 12 points. Four Argos put up double figures, including Second Team All-GSC member Toynetta Johnson who contributed 16 points.

The Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team was announced following the conclusion of the matchup. Delta State's Seneca Walton and Chelsey Rhodes were named. West Florida's Katie Bobos and Toynetta Johnson received the award with Tessah Holt being named Most Outstanding Player. West Georgia's Seandre Lee and North Alabama's Janae Lyde also received the honor.

The season is far from over for the Green-and-White as they currently hold the No. 4 ranking in the NCAA South Region. The tournament schedule and participating teams will be announced Sunday night, March 9.