GAME NOTES: Lady Statesmen at Valdosta State/West Florida
CLEVELAND, Mississippi – The No. 22/16 Delta State University women's basketball team (7-0, 4-0, GSC) ventures to Valdosta State (6-3, 2-2 GSC) on Thursday at 5 p.m. (CST) and West Florida (4-4, 2-2 GSC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Pensacola, Fla to close out 2015. | LADY STATESMEN GAME DAY INFORMATION |
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| Date/Location | Dec. 17 | Valdosta State | The Complex | Valdosta, Ga.
Dec. 19 | West Florida | UWF Field House | Pansacola, Fla. |
| Tip-off Time | Valdosta - 5 p.m. CST | West Florida - 2 p.m. |
| Records | Lady Statesmen (7-0, 4-0 GSC)
Lady Blazers (6-3, 2-2 GSC) | Argos (4-4 2-2 GSC) |
| Series History | VSU: DSU leads series 39-5 | UWF: DSU leads 13-7 |
| Audio | Listen Here |
| Video | VSU: Watch Here
UWF: Watch Here |
| Live Stats | VSU: Follow Here
UWF: Follow Here |
TIP-OFF Delta State moves into the WBCA USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 22 after previously receiving votes and moves from No. 21 to No. 16 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 poll. The Lady Statesmen are back in the WBCA USA Today weekly poll for the first time since March 4, 2014 (No.15).
The Lady Statesmen are 13-2 at The Complex in Valdosta, Ga., and are 3-4 at the UWF Fieldhouse.
Chelsey Rhodes scored 29 points and Becca Ruckes had 13 to lead Delta State to a 63-59 win over No. 9 Union (12.13.15) on Sunday at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Anissa Jackson set career-highs with 12 rebounds and seven assists in the winning effort.
DSU is limiting GSC opponents to 46.3 points per game, 34 percent shooting, and 25 percent from 3-point range. The Lady Statesmen have a +11 in turnover margin and a +17 scoring margin.
Three Lady Statesmen are averaging double figures in GSC contests. Rhodes is averaging 21.5 points per game followed by Ruckes with 12.4 and Aspriona Gilbert with 11.0 ppg. Anissa Jackson is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game, while Ruckes is pulling down 5.3 boards per league contest.
The Lady Statesmen are 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the GSC on the road. DSU is averaging 56.7 points per contest while limiting opponents to 49.7 points per game. Opponents are shooting 31.6 percent overall and 26.5 percent on 3-pointers.
The Lady Statesmen lead the GSC and NCAA with 49.4 points allowed per game, while their 34.4 field goal percentage defense leads the GSC and ranks 26th nationally. Delta State has not allowed more than 59 points and have limited 6-of-7 opponents to less than 36 percent shooting.
Rhodes' 21.4 points per game and 36.9 minutes played per game leads the GSC and are 10th and 14th nationally, respectively.
DSU In The GSC/NCAA Rankings: 26.2 3-point field goal percentage defense (2nd GSC/43rd NCAA); +2.3 turnover margin (3rd GSC); 73.9 free throw percentage (3rd GSC/58th NCAA); 13.0 scoring margin (2nd GSC/42nd NCAA); 90 fewest turnovers (1st GSC/11th NCAA); 14.8 assists (3rd GSC)
VSU Leaders: Madi Mitchell (10.2 ppg), Aallayah Cheatham (10.0 ppg/2.3 apg), Maggie Davis (5.6 rpg)
UWF Leaders: Katie Bobos (12.6 ppg/8.3 rpg), Toni Brewer (11.0 ppg/7.6 rpg), Jamsine Wigfall (10.9 ppg) Alex Coyne (6.6 apg)
Delta State is off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 2010-11. The Lady Statesmen started 14-0 that season and finished the year 28-4 overall, falling in the regional finals to Arkansas Tech. The 4-0 GSC start is the first since the 2013-14 season when the Lady Statesmen started 9-0 in league play.
