CLEVELAND, Miss. – Seneca Walton scored 27 points and Rhandi Ball added 15 points and five assists to lead the Delta State University women's basketball team to a 67-52 victory over the University of North Alabama Saturday, Feb. 14 at Lloyd Clark Court at Walter Sillers Coliseum. The Lady Statesmen improved to 15-8 on the year and 13-6 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Lions slipped to 13-10 and 10-9 in league action. DSU's win was their 11^th in the last 13 games for the Lady Statesmen and secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming GSC Tournament. 
 
Inside the Matchup

• Women's Score:  Delta State 67, North Alabama 52 (Final)
• Records: Delta State Lady Statesmen (15-8, 13-6 GSC); North Alabama Lions (13-10, 10-9 GSC)
• Date: Thursday, February 12, 2015 | 2 p.m. Tipoff
• Location: Lloyd Clark Court-Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Mississippi
• Series: The Lady Statesmen are 49-7 overall and are 25-2 against UNA at Lloyd Clark Court-Walter Sillers Coliseum after today. 
• Short Story: Delta State used stifling defense in the second half to claim a 67-52 victory over North Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 14 ay Walter Sillers Coliseum. The Lady Statesmen held the Lions to 25.7 percent in the second half and just 2 for their last 12 field goal attempts to pull away for the win.

How It Happened

• Delta State used stifling defense in the second half to claim a 67-52 victory over North Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 14 ay Walter Sillers Coliseum. The Lady Statesmen held the Lions to 25.7 percent in the second half and just 2 for their last 12 field goal attempts to pull away for the win.
• The Lady Statesmen shot 44.9 percent (22-of-49) for the game after hitting 60.9 percent (14-of-23) in the second half. UNA finished shooting 31.7 percent (19-of-60) from the floor and was just 9-of-35 in the second half.
• DSU finished 22-of-33 at the free throw line while UNA was 9-of-18. The Lions were also 5-of-23 from 3-point range and the Lady Statesmen managed just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
• Seneca Walton finished with a season-high 27 points and seven rebounds to lead the Lady Statesmen. The Clarksdale, Miss., native was 11-of-13 from the floor and tied her career-high with five blocks.
• Rhandi Ball scored 15 points and handed out five assists. Chelsey Rhodes added eight points and four rebounds, while Anissa Jackson chipped in four points, six rebounds and set a new career-high with five assists.
• UNA was led by Corinne White's 12 points and seven rebounds. Janae Lyde added 11 points in the loss.
• Halftime Score: UNA 31, DSU 30
• Delta State shot 30.8 percent (8-of-26) in the first frame and managed just one field goal in their last 14 attempts. North Alabama was 10-of-25 from the field to shoot 40.0 percent at halftime.
• Halftime Sidebar Stats: DSU outscored UNA 12-10 in the paint, but UNA edged DSU 7-2 in second chance points. 
• Halftime Streaks: UNA used a 17-3 run over 8:03 seconds to take 27-18 lead with 3:36 to play in the half. It was the Lions' largest lead of the half. The Lady Statesmen closed the half on a 12-4 run, but trailed the Lions 31-30 at the break.

Beyond the Numbers

• The win was the seventh in eight games and the sixth straight home win for the Lady Statesmen.
• The win also secured the Lady Statesmen the No. 3 seed in the Gulf South Conference Tournament that begins on March 3 at campus sites.
• In the first meeting with UNA, Rhandi Ball scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Delta State to a 64-61 win at Flowers Hall in Florence, Ala. Seneca Walton added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Anissa Jackson chipped in 12 points in the win.
• Road to 1,000 Points: Senior forward Rhandi Ball's scored 11 points to move her career-points total to 1,017, passing Moe Bell (2007-2011) for 34^thon the all-time scoring list. Senior forward Seneca Walton scored 14 points and has 1,191career points, five shy of passing Amber Gean (1,195) 26^th. Junior shooting guard Chelsey Rhodes led DSU with 23 points and is now 31^st on the all-time scoring list with 1,092, moving past Shawanna Wright (1,077).
• Rhandi Ball's one steal gives her 224 for her career to move past JoLynn Davis (223) on the career list. The Pontotoc, Miss., native is now eighth all-time at DSU.
• Chelsey Rhodes has scored in double figures in 10 of her last 13 games and 18-of-23 games this season
• The win was head coach Craigh Roden's 511^th career win and his 313^th Gulf South Conference victory.

Who's Next

• The Lady Statesmen hit the road to Rome, Ga., for a Thursday, Feb. 19 showdown with the Shorter University Hawks. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at the Winthrope-King Center. Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network.