GAME NOTES: Delta State at No. 22 Union/Christian Brothers (1.28-30.16) CLEVELAND, Miss. – A clash between No. 22 Delta State Univeristy (14-2, 11-2 GSC) and No. 14 Union University (17-2, 11-2 GSC) begins a two-game road trip for the Lady Statesmen on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Fred DeLay Gym. The Lady Statesmen take on Christian Brothers at Canale Arena on Saturday at 2 p.m. to close the road trip.
| LADY STATESMEN GAME DAY INFORMATION |
|---|
| Date/Location | Jan. 28, 2016 | Fred DeLay Gym | Jackson, Tenn.
Jan. 30, 2016 | Canale Arena | Memphis, Tenn. |
| Tip-off Time | NO. 14 Union – 6 p.m.
Christian Brothers – 2 p.m. |
| Records | Lady Statesmen (14-2, 11-2 GSC)
Lady Bulldogs (17-2, 11-2 GSC) | Bucs (6-11, 4-9 GSC) |
| Series History | UU: DSU leads series 6-3
CBU: DSU leads 39-3 |
| Audio | Listen Here |
| Video | UU: Watch Here
CBU: Watch Here |
| Live Stats | UU: Follow Here
CBU: Follow Here |
TIP-OFFDelta State moved up three spots to 22nd in this week's WBCA USA Today Top 25 and but dropped out of the D2SIDA Media Poll.
Freshman
Alondrea Rush set career-highs with 17 points and five 3-pointers in a 60-49 win over West Georgia (1.23.16) at Walter Sillers.
Senior
Becca Ruckes recorded her second career double-double and DSU's second double-double this season against West Georgia. TJunior
Kaelin Kneeland posted her first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds versus North Alabama (1.02.16).
Career vs. UU:
Chelsey Rhodes (7G/6 GS/14.5 ppg./2.7 apg./1.2 spg.),
Anissa Jackson (6 G/4 GS, 8.5 ppg./4.8 rpg./2.3 apg.),
Becca Ruckes (6 G/1 GS/6.2 ppg./2.7 rpg.),
Aspriona Gilbert (1 G/8.0 ppg.). Last Time vs. UU: Rhodes 29 points, Ruckes 13 points and six rebounds; Jackson 12 rebounds and five points.
Career vs. CBU: Rhodes (7 G/7 GS/13.0 ppg./2.9 rpg./2.4 assists), Ruckes (6 G/1 GS/7.0 ppg./2.0 rpg.) Jackson (5 G/4 GS, 3.6 ppg./3.4 rpg./1.0 apg.). Last Time vs. CBU: Ruckes 18 points, 4 rebounds; Gilbert 15 points, 5 rebounds; Rush and Rhodes 14 points each.
The Lady Statesmen lead the NCAA in scoring defense (48.2 ppg.), and rank second in the GSC and 15th nationally in field goal percentage defense (34.6). DSU is second in the GSC and 17th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.3). Delta State has held 9-of-16 opponents to 50 or fewer points this season.
Delta State's 76.5 free throw percentage is second in the GSC and 15th nationally while Rhodes' 85.2 free throw percentage is second in the GSC and 38th nationally.
Rhodes and Ruckes are averaging a combined 30.3 of DSU's 61.6 points per game. Rhodes has scored in double figures in all 16 games this season and 20 of her last 21 games while Ruckes has put up double figures in 10-of-16 games this season.
UU Leaders: #30 Tara Caldwell (13.5 ppg./6.8 rpg.), #2 Jada Smith (11.5 ppg./3.6 rpg./5.6 apg.), #15 Chelsea Bradford (10.8 ppg.) #12 Kelsey Risner (9.6 ppg./10.1 rpg.)
CBU Leaders: #25 Samantha Reeves (14.1 ppg./5.7 rpg./1.9 apg.), #1 Courtney Banks (11.2 ppg./3.1. rpg./3.7 apg.) #23 Madison Luckett (6.3 rpg.)
DSU is 5-2 on the road this season with both losses coming by a combined six points. The Lady Statesmen fell at West Florida (12.19.15), 57-54, and at Shorter (1.11.16), 63-60, after trailing by as many as 29 points in the first half.
