GAME NOTES: Delta State Lady Statesmen at Valdosta State (2.7.15)
CLEVELAND, Mississippi – The Delta State University Lady Statesmen face a key two-game road swing this weekend, facing second place University of West Florida on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. in Pensacola, Fla., before closing out the trip against Valdosta State University on Saturaday in Valdosta, Georgia at 5 p.m. central time. DSU enters the UWF game in third place with a 10-5 GSC mark one game behind the Argnoauts at 11-4.
IN THE PAINT
Delta State sits in third place in the GSC standings with a 10-6 record heading into tonight's game against Valdosta State.
Lady Statesmen On The Road: This is the second game of a two-game road trip for the Lady Statesmen falling to West Florida, 65-52 in overtime on Thursday. DSU had a two-game road winning streak snapped at UWF. The Lady Statesmen are 4-6 overall on the road this year. Seneca Walton is averaging 16 points and 7.6 rebounds followed by Chelsey Rhodes 13.1 points and Rhandi Ball's 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds on the road this season. The Lady Statesmen are shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from 3-point range.
12.18.14 vs. VSU: Delta State turned a 29-27 halftime deficit into a 76-46 victory over Valdosta behind a 21-point second half from junior Chelsey Rhodes in Cleveland, Mississippi. (See Full Box Page 13).
The Series: Delta State and Valdosta State meet for the 43rd time, dating to the first meeting on January 28, 1978 in Cleveland, Mississippi, a 73-61 win for the Lady Statesmen. The Lady Statesmen lead the all-time series 37-5 after the first meeting this season in Cleveland on Dec. 18, 2014.
Stealing The Show: DSU notched a season-high 15 steals against West Florida (2.5.15), eclipsing the 13 steals versus Valdosta State (2.18.14). Anissa Jackson had five steals followed by Rhandi Ball with four and Seneca Walton and Chelsey Rhodes with three.
DSU In The GSC Stats (As of 2.1.15): Scoring Defense (1st/56.2); 3-point Field Goal Percentage Defense (2nd/29.1); Assist/Turnover Ratio (3rd/0/87); Turnover Margin (3rd/1.05); Field Goal Percentage Defense (4th/38.8);
Rhandi Ball ranks second in the GSC with 2.3 steals per game, seventh in assists averaging 2.6 per game, nine in rebounding with 6.4 per game and 15th in scoring with 11.4 per game. The Pontotoc, Mississippi, native needs one-point to become the 36th member of the 1,000-point club (999 pts.) and the third Lady Statesmen to join the club this season. Ball had four steals against UWF and is now tied for ninth with 214 career-steals (Deborah Temple, 1982-84).
Chelsey Rhodes' 82.1 free throw percentage ranks second and her 15.3 points per game rank fifth in the GSC. The Monticello, Arkansas, native is also ranked ninth in field goal percentage (38.7), seventh in 3-point field goals per game (1.8) and 11th in steals (1.4/game). Rhodes has scored in double digits in 15-of-19 games, including four games with 20-plus points. Rhodes' is sixth on the career 3-point field goals made (125) and fifth in career 3-pointers attempted (365). Rhodes has scored 1043 points, nine points from passing Lynn Rose (1,051/1994-1996).
Seneca Walton was selected the GSC Women's Basketball Player of the Week on Tuesday. She averaged 15 points and eight rebounds in two games, including 20-point, 12-rebound effort against GSC leader Union. She has two double-doubles this season against Union and at West Georgia. Walton ranks sixth in the GSC with 7.1 rebounds per game and 14th with 12.4 points per game. Walton scored 16 points against UWF and has posted double figure scoring efforts in 11 straight games and has scored 20-plus points three times. 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 268 career rebounds rank 13th.
This is the 49th season of Lady Statesmen Basketball. The Lady Statesmen have an all-time record of 1,077-269-3 record.
