Delta State University

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – Delta State University's women's basketball team fell 64-44 on the road at No. 23 Nova Southeastern in the opening game of the season at NSU Arena at the Gulf South/Sunshine State Crossover Classic on Friday night. 

Inside the Matchup
 

• Score: Nova Southeastern 64 - Delta State 44
• Series: 3rd meeting | Nova leads the series 3-0
• Location: NSU Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

How It Happened
 

• Senior Aspriona Gilbert scored the opening bucket of the game, as her layup with 9:05 left in the first quarter gave Delta State the early advantage.
• Nova Southeastern took a 10-7 lead after one quarter. Nova's defense shined early, holding the Lady Statesmen to 33% shooting while compiling three steals in the opening period.
• Delta State would fight back in the second quarter, outscoring the Sharks 13-9 in the second to take a 20-19 lead into the halftime intermission.
• Sophomore Alondrea Rush and Gilbert paced the Lady Statesmen at the halftime intermission, as each turned in six points. Junior Carly Keller and senior Kaelin Kneeland each added four points at the half. 
• Delta State's defense clamped down in the first half, holding Nova Southeastern to just 24% shooting (6-of-25) in the first half, including a 15.4% mark from three-point territory (2-of-13). 
• The Sharks broke out in the second half, outscoring Delta State by a 45-24 margin, knocking down six second half three-point field goals.
• Nova Southeastern edged Delta State 22-18 in an explosive third quarter of action and then outscored the Lady Statesmen 23-6 in the final quarter to pull away late. 
• Junior Christen Prasse led all scorers with 13 points for the Sharks while also pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out five assists. Senior Taylor Buie and freshman Cheray Saunders contributed 11 points apiece for Nova Southeastern. 
• Gilbert, a senior from Myrtle, Mississippi, was the second leading scorer for the game, posting 12 points and pulling down three rebounds. Gilbert shot 67% from the floor (4-of-6) and also went 4-of-7 from the charity stripe.

Notables
 

• The Lady Statesmen out rebounded the Sharks 33-32, but Nova Southeastern edged the Lady Statesmen in points in the paint (28 to 24), points off turnovers (22 to 9) and fast break points (16 to 4) in the victory. 
• Seniors Aspriona Gilbert (12 points), Kaelin Kneeland (eight points), Anissa Jackson (four points) and Toya Collins (four points) combined to score 28 of Delta State's 44 points for the game. 
• Freshman Tori Mallory (two points), junior Iesha Mays (two points), junior Carly Keller (four points), and Rush (eight points) rounded out the scoring.

Who's Next
 

• The Lady Statesmen continue with the GSC/SSC Crossover tomorrow, Nov. 12, as they square off against Barry University. The game will tip at 1 PM CT, 2 PM ET at NSU Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.