FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida - The Delta State University women's basketball team is set to defend its Gulf South Conference title when it begins the 2016-17 campaign in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at the Gulf South/Sunshine State Crossover held at Nova Southeastern on Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12.
| LADY STATESMEN GAME DAY INFO |
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| Date/Location |
Nov. 11: DSU at No. 23 Nova Southeastern
Nov. 12: DSU vs. Barry University |
| Tip-off Time |
DSU at Nova Southeastern: 4PM CT/5PM ET
DSU vs. Barry University: 1PM CT/2PM ET |
| Series History/Last Meeting |
DSU vs. Nova Sharks | 0-2 (L, 75-64)
DSU vs. Barry Bucs | 1-0 (W, 86-62) |
| Audio/Video |
Listen/Watch Here |
| Live Stats |
Follow Here |
| Game Notes |
Lady Statesmen at GSC/SSC Crossover |
TIP-OFF NEWS AND NOTES
- The Lady Statesmen enter the season looking to defend the program's 16th Gulf South conference title.
- DSU finished last season 22-7 and 16-6 in the GSC. The program has posted a 41-17 record in head coach Craig Roden's first two seasons at the helm.
- Delta State returns five players from last year's GSC tournament champion squad. This includes seniors Anissa Jackson and Aspriona Gilbert and sophomore Alondrea Rush, who all started games for the Lady Statesmen last season and will provide key experience for the Lady Statesmen. Seniors Alexis Ross and Kaelin Kneeland also return. Senior Toya Collins returns after redshirting last season, and junior Carly Keller rejoins the team after sitting out in 2015-16.
- DSU welcomes six newcomers to the roster. Junior transfers Ieysha Mays (Itawamba CC) and Laricka Morgan (Holmes CC) and freshmen Patty Hancock, Aliyah Herod, Simone Jackson and Tori Mallory round out the roster. Jackson and Mallory were tabbed amongst the top newcomers in the GSC.
- The Lady Statesmen sported the No 1. defense in NCAA Division II basketball last season, giving up just 50.3 points per game. That mark was also top in the GSC. The Lady Statesmen were ranked No. 15 nationally in field goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to a mere 35.5% shooting clip.
Inside the Rankings:
- Delta State enters the season picked second in the GSC. They were also picked fifth in the NCAA South Region preseason poll. The Lady Statesmen were tabbed No. 23 in the NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 by the Women's Division II Bulletin.
About the Competition:
- Nova Southeastern: The Sharks open the season as the preseason favorite to win the Sunshine State Conference after a 24-7 season last year. They were ranked No. 23 in the preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 poll. The Sharks posted top 10 national marks last season in assists (9th with 530) and assists per game (17.1). NSU is led by head coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry. 2015-16 SSC Player of the Year Kayla Wright (16.2 ppg./5.3 rpg./18.9 mpg.) returns for the Sharks, as does last season's second leading scorer in senior Taylor Buie (13.3 ppg./2.3 rpg./30.4 mpg.). Juniors Katie Barnard (3.3 ppg./2.2 rpg./12.9 mpg.) and Christen Prasse (2.2 ppg./1.3 rpg.) are also expected to contribute for the Sharks.
- Barry University: The Bucs are coming off of a 19-9 season last year and were picked sixth in the SSC preseason poll. Barry was ranked 18th in NCAA Division II in free throw percentage (76.7%) last season and was also ranked 26th in assist-turnover ratio (1.14). Eleventh-year head coach Bill Sullivan looks to replace nine seniors and all five starters from last year's team. Senior guard Toni Niebler (2.6 ppg./0.7 apg./11.5 mpg.), sophomore Juhnae Richardson (3.4 ppg./1.7 rpg./10.3 mpg.) and junior Lexy Schoonover (3.7 ppg./1.5 apg./20.8 mpg. at Armstrong State) are expected to contribute for the Bucs.
UP NEXT
The Lady Statesmen open up the 2016-17 home season on Tuesday, Nov. 22, against Southern Arkansas University. The game will tip at 5:30 p.m. CST at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
