CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Senior Chelsey Rhodes tied her career-high with 34 points to lead Delta State University (18-5, 15-5 GSC) to a 49-38 win over Shorter University (17-8, 14-6 GSC) on Thursday at Lloyd Clark Court-Walter Sillers Coliseum. The victory moved DSU one step closer to securing a home game in the upcoming Gulf South Conference Tournament's first round.

Inside the Matchup

• Score: Delta State 49 | Shorter 38
• Matchup: Lady Statesmen (18-5, 15-5 GSC) | Hawks (17-8, 14-6 GSC)
• Series:DSU leads series 8-1
• Date: Thurs, Feb. 18, 2016 | 5:30 p.m. (CST)
• Location:Walter Silliers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.

How It Happened

• The Lady Statesmen jumped out to an 8-1 lead after a pair of Aspriona Gilbert free throws with 5:08 left in the first quarter and closed the final 4:52 of the quarter 10-5 run for an 18-6 lead.
• DSU and Shorter struggled offensively in the second quarter, combining for seven points, as the Lady Statesmen held a 21-10 half-time lead.
• Delta State shot 39.1 percent in the first half, connecting on 9-of-23 shots from the field and just 1-of-4 from 3-point range. Shorter managed a meager 19.0 percent on 4-of-21 from the floor.
• Chelsey Rhodes led all scorers at the break with 15 points. SU's Shakeirya McClendon had four to lead the Lady Hawks.
• In the third quarter, the Lady Hawks outscored the Lady Statesmen 13-10, as Shaundricka Mann helped ignite SU's offense.
• Rhodes found her rhythm again in the fourth quarter, as Delta State finished the final 10 minutes out-pacing Shorter 18-15 to make the final 49-38.
• SU finished the night shooting 29.3 percent (12-of-41), while making 3-of-11 from 3-point range and 11-of-18 at the line. DSU closed the night hitting 42.1 percent (16-of-38) with 3-of-7 (42.9 percent) coming from 3-point range and 14-of-22 at the line.

Notables

• The Lady Statesmen held Shorter to 25 rebounds, 10 below its season average of 35 and the 38 points scored was 27 points under its season scoring average.
• Rhodes tied her career-high with 34 points and had a career-high five steals.
• Rhodes increased her career points total to 1,657 points and needs six points to move into sixth place and pass Tanya Redmond (1,662 pts./1995-98) and Caroline Boclair (1,632 pts/1998-01).
• Rhodes went 3-for-4 from 3-point range and is now 193-of-576 for her career from long range, ranking second in both categories.
• Anissa Jackson had six points and a team-high eight rebounds.
• Head Coach Craig Roden claimed his 533^rd career win and 334^rd GSC victory and improved to 4-0 against North Alabama since arriving at Delta State.
• The Lady Statesmen improved o 5-0 at home against Shorter University.
• DSU's three points scored in the second quarter was the second lowest points in quarter dating back to its two points scored in the second quarter at Shorter (1.11.16).
• Taylor Adams scored 13 points and collected seven rebounds to lead Shorter University.

Who's Next?

• Delta State hosts Lee University for Senior Day on Saturday at 2 p.m. The program will honor seniors Chelsey Rhodes, Becca Ruckes and Antoinette Riddle after the conclusion of Saturday's contest with the Lady Flames.