Elisabetta Zengaro
62
Winner Delta State University DSU 13-8, 11-6 GSC
53
Valdosta State VSU 11-12, 7-10 GSC
Winner
Delta State University DSU
13-8, 11-6 GSC
62
Final
53
Valdosta State VSU
11-12, 7-10 GSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Delta State University DSU 24 38 62
Valdosta State VSU 23 30 53

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Fred Sington

Late Free Throws Help Lady Statesmen Beat Valdosta State

Inside the Matchup
  • Women's Score: Delta State 62, Valdosa State 53 (Final)
  • Records: Delta State Lady Statesmen (13-8, 11-6 GSC); Valdosta State (11-12, 7-10 GSC)
  • Date: Saturday, February 7, 2015
  • Location: The Complex | Valdosta, Georgia
  • Series: The Lady Statesmen lead the series 38-5 and are 13-2 The Complex after tonight.
  • Short Story: Delta State made eight consecutive free throws in the final 26 seconds to earn a 62-53 win over Valdosta State University Saturday at the The Complex. Chelsey Rhodes had 26 points, including four 3-pionters and four of the eight free throws in the final 26 seconds while Becca Ruckes had 15 points off the bench for the Lady Statesmen.

How It Happened
  • Jordan Waugh hit a 3-pointer to give Valdosta State 21-13 lead with 6:46 remaining in the first half before Delta State closed the first half on an 11-2 run, taking a 24-23 lead after two Chelsey Rhodes free throws.
  • The Lady Statesmen shot 45 percent (9-20) from the field and went one-for-three from 3-point range in the opening half. Valdosta State shot 41.7 percent (10-24) and went two-for-seven (28 percent) from long range. 
  • The Lady Statesmen held a 52-46 lead on a Becca Ruckes basket with 3:19 showing on the game clock before VSU's April Thomas cut the deficit to 52-50 with 2:04 to go.
  • The Lady Blazers cut the DSU lead to 54-52 on a Maylisa Johnson free throw with 26 seconds to go followed by a DSU turnover, giving VSU a possession to tie the game.
  • Becca Ruckes was fouled and calmly made a pair of free throws to give DSU A 56-52 lead with 17 seconds left.
  • Valdosta State was whistled for an intentional foul and then a technical foul on the bench. Anissa Jackson hit two free throws on the intentional foul and Chelsey Rhodes made the two technical free throws to give DSU a 60-53 with 13 seconds left.
  • Chelsey Rhodes led DSU with 26 points and Becca Ruckes had 15 points, one point short of her career-high for the Lady Statesmen. Rhandi Ball and Anissa Jackson had seven points while Ball led with six rebounds.
  • Imari Simpson and April Thomas led Valdosta State with 20 and 13 points, respectively.
  • The Lady Statesmen went eight-for-eight from the free throw line in the final 26 seconds finished 12-for-12 from the charity stripe.
  • Led by Becca Ruckes 15 points, the Lady Statesmen bench outscored VSU 22-6 and held a 10-7 edged in secon chance points.

Beyond the Numbers
  • The win was the fifth in six games for the Lady Statesmen and was their third win in the last four road games after going 1-1 on this two-game road trip.
  • Road to 1,000 Points: Senior forward Rhandi Ball's layup with 2:13 signed her up as the 36th member of DSU's 1,000-point club. Ball finished with seven points and has 1,006 career points, tied for 35th on with Moe Ball (2007-2011). Senior forward Seneca Walton (1,177) and junior shooting guard Chelsey Rhodes (1,069) have already joined the 1,000 Point Club this season.
  • Rhodes, who had 30 points in the first game in Cleveland, Mississippi (1.18.14), scored 26 points to take over 32nd on the all-time scoring list, passing  Lynn Rose (1,051/1994-96)
  • Rhandi Ball's four steals gives her 216 career steals, moving her past Deborah Temple (1982-84) on the all-time steals list.
  • Senior forward and All-America candidate Seneca Walton is currently second on the team in scoring (12.2 ppg.), but leads the team in rebounding (7.2 rbg). The Clarksdale, Miss., had scored in double figures in 10 straight games but was held scoreless for the first time this season.
  • The win was Head Coach Craig Roden's 509th career win and his 311th Gulf South Conference victory.

Who's Next
  • The Lady Statesmen return home to host the Alabama-Huntsville at Lloyd Clark Court at Walter Sillers Coliseum Thursday at 5:30 p.m.  Phillip Tang will call all of the action on the Statesmen Sports Network on Majic 107.5 FM in Cleveland.  Fans can view live video, live stats and hear streaming audio on www.gostatesmen.com.
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