GAME NOTES: Delta State Lady Statesmen vs. Alabama-Huntsville (2.12.15)

CLEVELAND, Mississippi – The Gulf South Conference race heats up when Delta State women's basketball hosts the University of Alabama-Huntsville and the University of North Alabama at Llody Clark Court-Walter Sillers Coliseum this Thursay at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. With five regular season games left, the Lady Statesmen look to rise from third place in the Gulf South Conference standings and a chance to host a GSC Tourament first-round contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Delta State defeated UAH, 67-49 (1.5.15) in Huntsville, Alabama, and North Alabama, 64-63 (1.3.15) in Florence, Alabama, and have won eight of its last 10 games entering the two-game home stand.  Thursday's UAH game is Faculty/Staff Appreciation night that includes free admission for Faculty/Staff and drawings for door prizes. 
 

IN THE PAINT 

Delta State sits in third place in the GSC standings with a 10-6 record two games behind West Florida. The Lady Statesmen are 8-2 over in the last 10 GSC games.

Home Sweet Home: Delta State is 8-2 at Lloyd Clark Court -Walter Sillers Coliseum this season. The Lady Statesmen have won four straight and six of their last seven home games.   DSU is averaging 61.3 while limiting opponents to 49.6 points per game for a +11.7 scoring margin. The Green and White have a +1.7 rebound margin and are shooting 41 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point range. Chelsey Rhodes is averaging 17.3 points per game, shooting 41 percent from 3-point range and 86 percent from the charity stripe. Walton  is pulling down 7.4 rebounds per game and Rhandi Ball collects 6.9 rebounds per game. 

1.5.15 @ UAH:  Four Lady Statesmen scored in double figures to help Delta State to a 67-49 win at Alabama-Huntsville. Rhandi Ball had 18 points followed by Toya Collins and Chelsey Rhodes with 12 points an Seneca Walton with 10 points.  Collins 12 points set a new DSU career-high. (See Full Box Page 13).

The Series:  Delta State and Alabama-Huntsville meet for the 20th on the hardwood with the Lady Statesmen leading the all-time series 15-4. Delta State has won the last five meetings and is 6-0 at Lloyd Clark Court-Walter Sillers Coliseum. 

1K Point Club:  Rhandi Ball became the 36th member of the 1,000-point club and third Lady Statesmen to join the club this season. Ball had seven points against Valdosta State, tying Moe Bell (2007-2011) for 35th with 1,006 points.  Seneca Walton (1177) and Chelsey Rhodes (1,069) joined the club earlier this season.

GSC/NCAA Stats (As of 2.1.15):  Scoring Defense (1st/56.5 | 10th/NCAA); 3-point Field Goal Percentage Defense (2nd/34.0); Turnover Margin (5th/1.05); Field Goal Percentage Defense (4th/39.3); Defense Rebounds (2nd/34.0); Steals (8.0/5th); 

Rhandi Ball is second in the GSC with 2.4 steals per game, eighth in assists, 2.6 per game, 10th with 6.4 rebounds per game and 15th in scoring with 11.4 points per game. Ball had four steals against Valdosta State to move into ninth with 216 career-steals, passing Deborah Temple (214/1982-84).

Chelsey Rhodes' 82.4 free throw percentage ranks second and her 15.5 points per game ranks fifth in the GSC. The Monticello, Arkansas, native is seventh in field goal percentage (39.7), and 3-point field goals per game (1.9) and 12th in assists (2.3/game). Rhodes has scored in double digits in 17-of-21 games, including five games with 20-plus points. Rhodes' is sixth on the career 3-point field goals made (129) and fifth in career 3-pointers attempted (372). Rhodes had 26 points against Valdosta State, passing Lynn Rose (1,051/1994-1996) for 31st with 1,069 points).ω

Seneca Walton ranks sixth in the GSC with 6.9 rebounds per game and 13th with 11.8 points per game. Walton did not score against Valdosta State, snapping her 11  straight game double-digit scoring streak. The Clarksdale, Mississippi, native has scored in double figures in 13-of-19 games, including three games with 20-plus points. Walton's 1,177 points rank 27th on DSU's all-time scoring list, 19 points shy of passing Amber Gean (1,195/2001-2005), Her 109 career blocks rank seventh and her 771 career rebounds rank 12th. She has two double-doubles this season against Union and at West Georgia.

Lloyd Clark Court: The Walter Sillers court was officially named Lloyd Clark Court on January 10, 2015. Clark led the Lady Statesmen program for 19 seasons, winning three NCAA Division II titles (1988-89, 1989-89, 1991-92) and 10 GSC Championships. The Drew, Mississippi, native compiled a 494-98 record and a 206-38 GSC mark.

This is the 49th season of Lady Statesmen Basketball. The Lady Statesmen have an all-time record of 1,077-269-3 record.