CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Chelsey Rhodes scored 29 points to lead Delta State University (7-0, 4-0 GSC) to a 63-59 win over No. 9 Union University (9-1, 3-1 GSC) on Sunday at Lloyd Clark Court-Walter Sillers Coliseum. Rhodes went 14-of-15 from the free throw line, 6-for-6 in the final two minutes, in the second half to help the Lady Statesmen trip up previously undefeated Lady Bulldogs.

Inside the Matchup

• Score:  Delta State 63 | Union University 59
• Matchup:  Lady Statesmen (7-0, 4-0 GSC) | Lady Bulldogs (9-1, 3-1 GSC)
• Series: DSU leads series 6-3
• Date:  Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 | 2 p.m.
• Location: Lloyd Clark Court-Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.

How It Happened

• The Lady Statesmen jumped to a quick 5-0 lead after a Chelsey Rhodes 3-pointer and a Becca Ruckes basket with 9:36 left in the first quarter.
• Union went on a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the game, 6-5, on a Tiara Caldwell layup with 7:06 remaining.
• Delta State closed the opening period on a 6-1 run to build a 17-11 lead.
• Union cut the DSU lead to 17-15 on back-to-back buckets by Caldwell to start the second quarter.
• A Gilbert layup and a Rhodes baseline jumper helped the Lady Statesmen push their advantage to 21-15 at the 4:48 mark.
• Caldwell netted 10 of Union's 13 second-quarter points, connecting on a jumper with five seconds to go and cutting the DSU lead to 25-24 at halftime.
• Rhodes made a jump shot to give DSU a 37-35 lead with 3:15 to play in a quarter that saw three lead changes and one tie. The Monticello, Ark., native, who was 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the third quarter, made two free throws with six seconds remaining to stretch the DSU lead to 44-40.
• Union's Kelsey Risner hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the DSU lead to 44-43 lead heading to the final quarter.
• Holding a 47-45 lead, the Lady Statesmen went on a 6-0 run to take a 53-45 lead with 5:48 to play in the fourth quarter.
• Rhodes went 14-of-15 from the free throw line in the second half including 6-for-6 in the final two minutes to help the Lady Statesmen hold on for the 63-59 win. The senior guard lhe Lady Statesmen with 29 points followed by Ruckes with 13 points and six rebounds.
• Anissa Jackson collected 12 rebounds, four offensive boards, to lead DSU.
• Jada Smith and Caldwell finished with 17 points followed by Kelsey Risner with 12 points for Union.

Notables              

• The Lady Statesmen defense remained dominant, holding Union to 22 points below its season scoring average and to 43.2 percent shooting, eight percent below its season norm, and 33.3 percent from 3-point range, 12 percent below its 3-point field goal percentage.
• Delta State is off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 2010-11 when the Lady Statesmen started the year 14-0. 
• The 4-0 GSC start is the first since the 2013-14 season when the Lady Statesmen started 9-0 in the GSC.    
• Rhodes' 29 points moved her to 18^th on the DSU all-time scoring list with 1,346 points.
• Jackson's 12 rebounds eclipsed her career high of eight against West Alabama (12.5.15).
• The Lady Statesmen are 4-0 at home this season and have won 11 straight home games, dating back to a 73-69 loss to West Florida (12.20.14).
• Craig Roden coached his 980th career NCAA game against Union and earned his 522^nd career win.

 
Who's Next

• The Lady Statesmen close out their pre-Christmas schedule against Valdosta State on Thursday at 4 p.m. in Valdosta, Georgia and West Florida on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Pensacola, Florida.