72
Winner Delta State DSU 9-7; 7-5
64
West Alabama UWA-WB 7-9; 4-8
Winner
Delta State DSU
9-7; 7-5
72
Final
64
West Alabama UWA-WB
7-9; 4-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Delta State DSU 32 40 72
West Alabama UWA-WB 29 35 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Fred Sington

Clutch Free Throws Help Lady Statesmen Hold Off UWA

Seneca Walton Continues to Rise Up the DSU Scoring Chart

The Basics
  • Score:  Lady Statesmen 72 West Alabama 64  
  • Records: Delta State (9-7, 7-5 GSC); West Alabama (7-9, 4-8 GSC)
  • Series: Lady Statesmen lead all-time series 48-7 | DSU has won last four meetings
  • Location: Pruitt Hall (1,000/Capacity) | Livingston, Alabama | Attendance: 345
  • Short Story:  Delta State women's basketball made seven-of-eight free throws in the final 1:46 to hold off a late charge by the University of West Alabama and claim a 72-64 Gulf South Conference win at Pruitt Hall. Seneca Walton scored 24 points to lead DSU and move into 27th on the all-time scoring list and Chelsey Rhodes followed with 23 points for the Lady Statesmen.

How It Happened
  • The first half saw three ties and five lead changes. DSU took its first lead of the night 3-2 after a Seneca Walton 3-pointer. West Alabama held the lead after that, until a Chelsey Rhodes 3-pointer gave the Lady Statesmen an 18-17 lead with 10:42 left. 
  • A Rhandi Ball basket sparked a 13-2 run that pushed Delta State ahead by six, 32-26, after a Mary Carol Davis three with 1:23 remaining.
  • West Alabama's Kelcia Bufkin connected from long range with 35 seconds left to cut the DSU lead to 32-29 at the break.
  • DSU went 12-of-23 from the field for 52.2 percent and connected on five-of-nine from beyond the arc while holding an 19-14 rebound edge in the first half. UWA was 13-of-25 for 52 percent and three-of-seven from 3-point ranged for 42.9 percent. 
  • Chelsey Rhodes connected on three 3-point field goals and Seneca Walton converted an old fashion three-point play during a 14-0 run to build a 46-29 lead to start the second half.
  • DSU later went on an 11-4 run to take its largest lead, 64-46, on two consecutive layups by Becca Ruckes at the 11:36 mark of the second half.
  • West Alabama used a 15-3 run to cut the DSU lead to 68-63 with 59 seconds left, but the Lady Statesmen made seven-of-eight free throws over the final 1:46 of the game to hold on for the 72-64 win.
  • The Lady Statesmen shot 60 percent from the field and 80 percent from 3-point range in the second half, finishing the night shooting 55 percent overall and a season-high nine-of-14 from distance (64.3 percent).
  • UWA shot 30 percent form the floor, making 9-of-30 field goals in the second half and finished 40 percent overall (22-of-55).
  • Seneca Walton scored 24 points and had seven rebounds followed by Chelsey Rhodes with 23, including five 3-point field goals. Rhandi Ball collected seven rebounds and had two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
  • Britney McCloud and Kelcia Bufkin led UWA with 18 points followed by Latisha McCullum with 10.  Maleka Johnson led the Tigers with five rebounds.    

Beyond the Box Score
  • The Lady Statesmen won three of their last four road games and five of their last six games overall.
  • Delta State has won the last three meetings against UWA, and own a 48-7 lead in the series.
  • Walton's 24 points moved her into 27th on the all-time scoring list with 1,103 career points, passing Pam Taylor (1,094/1988-91), Theresa Perry (1,098 pts./1992-95) and Vicki Jackson (1,100 pts./1982-86). The Clarksdale, Mississippi, native collected seven rebounds and has 735 career boards, moving into 13th on the all-time rebound list.
  • Chelsey Rhodes' 23 points makes her 17 points shy of joining the 1,000-point club while Rhandi Ball's five points is 45 points away from the 1,000-point mark.
  • Rhandi Ball collected two steals moving her career total to 207, three away from 10th on DSU steals list.
 
Up Next
  • The Lady Statesmen travel to take on the University of West Georgia at The Coliseum on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. central time. Philip Tang and Scott Wyant will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 12:45 p.m.
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