BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Chelsey Rhodes scored 27 points and Seneca Walton chipped in 21 to lead the Delta State University women's basketball team to a 75-65 victory over Shorter University on Friday, March 6 at the Pete Hannah Center in the semifinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament. The Lady Statesmen (19-9) advance to their 23^rd GSC title game and will face Union University (25-3) in Saturday's championship contest. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
"Our ladies faced some serious adversity today and answered the bell when we had to," DSU head coach Craig Roden said. "When we went down 10 in the first half, our focus came together and we played the way we are capable of. Chelsey and Seneca also did what they had to offensively and defensively, we were solid down the stretch."
 
Inside the Matchup: VisitSpaceCoast.com GSC Women's Basketball Tournament Semifinal

• Women's Score:  Delta State 75, Shorter 65  (Final)
• Records: Delta State Lady Statesmen (19-9/3^rd seed); Shorter Hawks (13-17/7^th seed)
• Date: Friday, March 6, 2015 | 2:30 p.m. (CST) Tipoff
• Location: Pete Hannah Center – Samford University | Birmingham, Ala.
• Series: Delta State leads the series 8-0; 2-0 postseason play
• Short Story: Delta State University. 
• Video Highlights: GoStatesmen TV on YouTube
   

How It Happened

• Behind the play of Chelsey Rhodes and Seneca Walton, the Lady Statesmen survived a scare from the Hawks, 75-65, to advance to the GSC Championship game on Saturday at the Pete Hannah Center. Rhodes scored a game-high 27 points, while Seneca Walton added 21 points and eight rebounds.
• The Lady Statesmen shot a blistering 52.6 percent (28-of-53) for the game, after hitting 50 percent (12-of-24) in the second half. DSU was also 6-of-15 from 3-point range, but struggled at the free throw line, making 13-of-23.
• Defensively, Delta State held Shorter to 39.6 percent (21-of-53) for the game. The Hawks were 6-of-21 from 3-point range and 17-of-22 at the free throw line.
• SU out-rebounded the Lady Statesmen 36-32, but turned it over 14 times leading to 18 points for DSU. The Green-and-White also won the assist battle, 16-13, and only committed nine turnovers.  
• The game featured four ties and eight lead changes. Delta State's largest lead was 15 points at the 4:16 mark of the second half.  
• Hawks soared out of the gate in the second half on a 10-2 run to tie it at 42-42 with 15:53 to play. SU had several runs in the contest that made it one of the tournament's most competitive games.
• Chelsey Rhodes, a first team All-GSC guard, finished the game with 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including four 3-pointers. The Monticello, Arkansas native has scored in double figures in her last three games and is averaging 22.5 points per game in the GSC Tournament.
• Seneca Walton, a senior All-GSC first team forward, dropped in 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady Statesmen. The Clarksdale, Mississippi native was 9-of-12 from the floor, while dishing out three assists and blocking two shots.
• Senior forward Rhandi Ball, an All-GSC second team selection, closed the game with eight points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists. The Pontotoc, Mississippi native also finished with two steals.
• Trailing 23-13 with 11:39 to go in the first half, the Lady Statesmen went on a 27-9 run to lead 40-32 at the half. DSU shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field in the frame after a slow start. Shorter finished the half hitting on 37 percent (10-of-27), after making eight of their first 10.
• The Hawks jumped out to a 10-point lead, 23-13, but the Lady Statesmen held Shorter scoreless for five minutes from 11:39 to 6:43, while taking over the lead.
• Seneca Walton led the Lady Statesmen with 13 points and four rebounds at the break. SU's Ieshia Alexander also had 13 points.
   

Beyond the Numbers

• Delta State is seeking its 16^th Gulf South Conference title this week at the Pete Hannah Center in Birmingham. The Lady Statesmen last won the league title in 2009 after defeating Arkansas-Monticello, 53-51, in overtime at the Desoto Civic Center.
• DSU reeled off four straight league championships from 2006-2009, including 12^th straight GSC semifinal appearances for the Lady Statesmen from 2004 to present.
• Delta State owns virtually every record in GSC Tournament history, including: championships (15), semifinal appearances (25), finals appearances (23), and tournament wins (54).
• Friday's meeting was the third this season between the two schools and the eighth overall. The Lady Statesmen defeated the Hawks 58-36 at Sillers Coliseum (1.12.15), while claiming a 47-42 victory at the Winthrope-King Centre in Rome, Georgia (2.19.15).
• The Lady Statesmen faced the Hawks for the second time in postseason play this Friday in the semifinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament. Their first postseason clash came way back in 1975-76 in the AIAW Region III Tournament at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Led by All-American Lusia Harris-Stewart, the Lady Statesmen edged the Hawks, 83-72. Delta State would go on to win the AIAW National Championship with 69-64 victory over Immaculata in the title game.
• Delta State features three players in the 1,000-Point Club, led by senior forward Seneca Walton's 1,282 points. The Clarksdale, Mississippi native ranks 25^th on the career list. Junior guard Chelsey Rhodes ranks 28^th with 1,191 points and senior small forward Rhandi Ball sits 33^rd with 1,079 points.
• The Lady Statesmen placed three student-athletes on the All-GSC Team. Seneca Walton (6-1/Sr.) and Chelsey Rhodes (5-7/Jr.) were named to the All-GSC first team, while Rhandi Ball (6-0/Sr.) received second team All-GSC honors.
• Senior Rhandi Ball, a four-time GSC Academic Honor Roll recipient, was named a Capital One/CoSIDA First Team Academic All-Region selection earlier this month. The Pontotoc, Mississippi native carries a 3.84 GPA in biology.
• Craig Roden is in his first season as head coach of the Lady Statesmen. The Guntersville, Alabama native is 515-457 all-time, and 315-280 in 18 seasons as a head coach in the Gulf South Conference. Roden is making his third championship game appearance in the last four years. His 2012 West Alabama squad captured the league title after eliminating the Lady Statesmen in the semifinals. UWA made the title tilt again in 2013, but fell to Alabama-Huntsville in the contest.

 
Who's Next

• The Lady Statesmen will face Union University in the GSC championship game on Saturday, March 7 at the Pete Hannah Center. Union advanced to Saturday's title game with a convincing 81-50 victory over the University of West Georgia. GSC Player of the Year Amy Philamlee led all scorers with 27 points, while handing out a game-high seven assists.
• Delta State and Union will be meeting for the eighth time in series history. The Lady Statesmen own a 5-2 mark against the Bulldogs and are 1-1 this season against UU.
• The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 12:45 p.m. on Jammin' 103.9 FM. Philip Tang will have the call.