VALDOSTA, Georgia – Chelsey Rhodes and Becca Ruckes combined for 23 points to lead the No. 22/16 Delta State University women's basketball team (8-0, 5-0, GSC) to a 48-38 win over Valdosta State University (6-4, 2-3 GSC) at The Complex on Thursday. The Lady Statesmen are 8-0 for the first time since 2010-11 when the Lady Statesmen started 14-0 and finished 28-4.

Inside the Matchup

• Score:  No. 22/16 Delta State 48 | Valdosta State University 38
• Matchup:  Lady Statesmen (8-0, 5-0 GSC) | Blazers (6-4, 2-3 GSC)
• Series: DSU leads series 40-5
• Date:  Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 | 5 p.m. (CST)
• Location: The Complex | Valdosta, Ga.

How It Happened

• A pair of free throws by Chelsey Rhodes gave DSU an early 2-0 advantage before the Blazers used a 6-0 run to build a 6-2 lead with 2:48 left in the first quarter.
• Rhodes made another free throw with 2:12 left and a Becca Ruckes layup at the 1:43 mark cut the deficit to 6-5 going into the second quarter.
• Trailing 8-5, the Lady Statesmen went on a 9-0 run to the lead for good, 14-8, after a 3-pointer by Rhodes with 2:15 to go before halftime.
• Delta State would hold a 17-14-halftime lead after VSU's Lydia Harvey connected on a 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining.
• The Lady Statesmen opened the third quarter on a 13-1 run to take a 27-15 lead after an Alondrea Rush jumper at the 5:41 mark.
• Delta State carried a 28-24 lead heading into the final quarter.
• Valdosta State climbed to within six points, 38-32, with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter only to see the Lady Statesmen outscore VSU 10-6 down the stretch to preserve the win.
• Lydia Harvey had nine points and Maggie Davis grabbed seven boards to lead the Blazers. 

Notables              

• Valdosta State's 38 points marked the second opponent in the last three games to score less then 40 points against the Lady Statesmen this season.
• The Blazers were held to 22 points below their season scoring average and to 25 percent shooting, 16 percent below their norm.
• Rhodes scored 13 points to remain 19^th on the DSU all-time scoring list with 1,359 points. She needs 18 points to take over the 18^th spot currently held by Anita Robinson (1,376/1987-90).
• Ruckes' 10 points outing scored in double figures for the sixth time in eight games this season.
• Rush collected a career-high six rebounds, eclipsing her previous career high of five against West Alabama (12.3.15).
• Delta State is 4-0 overall and 3-0 in GSC games on the road this season.
• Delta State is off to an 8-0 start for the first time since 2010-11 when the Lady Statesmen started 14-0 and finished 28-4. 
• The 5-0 GSC start is the first since the 2013-14 season when the Lady Statesmen started 9-0 in the GSC.    
• The Lady Statesmen earned its eight straight win against Valdosta State and improved to 14-2 in the series at The Complex.
• Craig Roden coached his 981st career NCAA game against the Blazers, earning his 533^rd win.

 
Who's Next

• The Lady Statesmen continue GSC play against the University of West Florida at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Pensacola, Fla.