BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Delta State University (21-6) scored the first eight points in overtime en route to its 16^th Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball championship with a 69-63 victory over top seed Union University (28-3) on Saturday at the Pete Hanna Center.  Senior Chelsey Rhodes scored 29 points to lead DSU and move into 12^th on the GSC career scoring list with 1,777 points.
 
Inside the Matchup

• Score: Delta State 69 | Union University 63
• Matchup: Lady Statesmen (22-6) | Bulldogs (28-3)
• Series: Delta State leads 7-4 | 1-1 GSC Tournament
• Date: Sat., March 5, 2016 | 1:05 p.m. (CST)
• Location: Pete Hanna Center | Birmingham, Ala.

How It Happened

• The Lady Statesmen jumped out to a quick 5-0 advantage on a 3-pointer by Chelsey Rhodes and short jumper by Becca Ruckes with 8:33 left in the first quarter.
• Union held a 9-7 lead with 5:28 remaining before the Lady Statesmen went on a 8-2 run to build a 17-11 advantage on an Aspriona Gilbert jumper at the 2:01 mark.
• Union closed the first quarter on an 8-0 to take a 19-17 lead into the second quarter.
• Anissa Jackson gave DSU a 27-23 lead with 2:32 left in the second.
• Rhodes scored the final four points of the second quarter to give the Lady Statesmen a 31-27 halftime lead.
• The first half saw five ties and six lead changes.
• Lady Statesmen held a 44-39 lead after an Alondrea Rush basket with 2:18 to go and Gilbert made a layup to give with 41 seconds left to give DSU a 46-41 lead heading into the final quarter.
• Rush made two free throws to give DSU a 59-57 lead with 21.3 seconds left in regulation.
• Tiara Caldwell's jumper with 25 seconds to send the game to overtime.
• Jackson got the overtime scoring started with a jumper from the left side followed by a Ruckes basket to give DSU a 63-59 lead at the 2:43 mark of the extra period.
• Rhodes scored the next four points to build the lead to 67-59 and Kelsey Risner made free throws to end the 4:48 scoring drought.
• Mary Carol Davis' two free throws increased the lead to 69-60 with nine seconds left before 3-pointer at the buzzer marked Union's only field goal of overtime.

Notables              

• The Lady Statesmen captured their 16^th GSC Women's Basketball Tournament title and the first since 2008-09. DSU finished as the GSC Tournament runner-up the last two seasons falling to Union in last years final 62-50.
• Rhodes was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player while Rush earned her way on the all-tournament squad. Kelsey Risnder (Union), Jada Smith (Union), Taylor Adams (Shorter) and Erin Walsh (Lee) are the other members of the all-tournament squad.
• Delta State was in the GSC Tournament Championship for 9^th time in the last 11 years and for the 25^th time in school history. DSU is 16-8 all-time in GSC title games.
• It was the first GSC Women's Basketball Championship final to go to overtime since 2002 and only the fourth time in tournament history.
• Out of 112 quarters, the Lady Statesmen have held opponents to single digits in 25 quarters after Unions eight points in the second quarter..
• Rhodes' 25 points moved her into 12^th place on the GSC Career scoring list with 1,777 points, ranking sixth on the DSU career scoring list.
• Rhodes made 3-of-9 3-pointers and is 204-of-611 for her career, ranking second in both categories.
• Delta State has held 27-of-28 opponents to an average of 16.1 points below their season average, holding Union to 12 points below its 75.8 season scoring average.
• Head Coach Craig Roden claimed is his second GSC title as a head coach and earned his 537^th career win.
• Roden has had a team in the GSC finals 4-of-5 last five years and has won two titles (UWA, 2012).

Who's Next?

• The NCAA Tournament Division II Regional sites and pairings will be announced on Sunday at 9 p.m. on NCAAChampionships.com.