BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Led by senior Chelsey Rhodes' 17 points, the Delta State women's basketball team (1-0) held off a late Miles College run (0-1) to earn a 55-53 win in the season opener for both schools on Sunday.

Inside the Matchup

• Score:  Delta State 55 | Miles College 53
• Matchup:  Lady Statesmen (1-0) | Golden Bears (0-1)
• Series: Delta State leads the series 6-0
• Location: Know-Windham Gym | Birmingham, Ala.

How It Happened

• The Lady Statesmen dominated the first quarter taking a 16-0 lead on a Kaelin Kneelend basket with 3:07 to go.
• A Chelsey Rhodes jumper ended the opening quarter scoring with DSU holding an 18-2 lead.
• Miles chipped away at the lead in the second quarter, closing the gap to six, 18-12, on a four-point play from Amon Walker at the 6:54 mark.
• The Golden Bears tied the game, 23-23, on a Tierra Williams jumper with 2:17 remaining in the second.
• Rhodes made two free throws to give DSU a 26-23 lead with 1:29 left before a Takyla Blackburn free throw cut the DSU lead to 26-24 at halftime.
• The Lady Statesmen outscored Miles 17-15 in the third quarter to take a 43-39 lead in to the fourth period.
• Delta State opened the final quarter on a 6-2 run to build a 49-41 lead after a Kneelend basket with 6:43 to go.
• The Lady Statesmen would keep the lead between six and eight points in the fourth quarter before Torborsha Holley trimmed the deficit to 54-52 with 1:51 remaining.
• Becca Ruckes' free throw with 1:14 remaining put the Lady Statesmen ahead 55-53.
• The Lady Statesmen defense held the Golden Bears without a field goal attempt over the final 1:14 to seal the win.

 
Notables

• Rhodes now has 1,213 career points after he 17-point outing and remains 27^th on the DSU all-time scoring list. The senior is 19 points shy of moving into a tie for 26^th with Betsey Hubbs (1986-88 | 1,232).
• Rhodes was 2-for-9 from 3-point range moving into a tie for third on the all-time 3-pointers made list with Amber Gean (2001-05).
• Aspriona Gilbert, Kneelend and Alondrea Rush made their debuts for the Lady Statesmen. Gilbert scored 11 points and led DSU with nine boards and Kneelend added four points. Rush had five assists, three points and four rebounds in her first career start at point guard.
• Mary Carol Davis scored five points and grabbed career-high seven rebounds.
• Delta State is 38-11-1 and 11-9 on the road all-time in season openers. The Lady Statesmen improved to 1-1 in season openers under second-year Head Coach Craig Roden.
• The win was marked career win number 516 for Roden.

 
Who's Next

• Delta State hosts Harding University for its home opener on Friday at 6 p.m.