CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University women's basketball team held Alabama Huntsville to 37 percent shooting in the 64-53 victory Saturday afternoon at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
 
Inside the Matchup:
 
    Score: Delta State 64 | Alabama Huntsville 53
    Records:  Lady Statesmen (7-7, 4-5 GSC) | Chargers (2-12, 1-8 GSC)
    Series: DSU leads series 19-5
    Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.
 
How It Happened:

• After the teams combined to score just nine points in the first five minutes, UAH's offense held the lead for the majority of the first quarter, using five points from Baylee Johnson, to take a 7-6 lead with 1:40 left in the opening quarter.
• The Lady Statesmen held the Chargers with no field goals in the final five minutes of the first quarter.
• DSU finished the quarter with a jumper by Kaelin Kneeland, to give the Lady Statesmen a 13-10 lead. After a slow start, the Green-and-White shot 5-of-12 in the first 10 minutes. UAH was held to 4-of-11, while committing four turnovers.
• The Lady Statesmen continued their hot shooting into the second quarter, and closed down the Chargers offense for the first two and a half minutes. DSU made three of its next seven, while going on a 9-6 run to lead 22-15 with 3:22 left in the half.
• UAH closed out the half on a 7-0 run and closed the gap to three points, but the Lady Statesmen maintained the lead 26-23, while finishing the half just 6-of-19 (32 percent) from the floor. DSU was 9-of-27 (33 percent) and 2-for-4 from long-range.
• The Lady Statesmen and Chargers were even on rebounds with 18 apiece, but DSU scored five points off six Alabama Huntsville miscues. DSU turned the ball over just four times in 20 minutes.
• Rush led DSU with seven points, on a perfect 2-of-3 from the field. Johnson led the visitors with seven first half points.
• The Lady Statesmen continued their hot shooting into the third quarter, going 4-of-6 over the first five minutes to extend the lead to 37-30 with 4:40 left in the period.
• Again in the third quarter, DSU held the visitors scoreless for over two minutes late in the third quarter.
• After trailing by as many as 15 points, in the third quarter, UAH chipped away at the DSU lead to trail 47-35 at the end of the third quarter.
• The Chargers continued to battle, hitting a big three-pointer and jumper in the first five minutes of the final quarter to cut the lead down to eight points.
• After going 3:15 without a basket, Gilbert gave DSU a 57-49 lead with two free throws with 1:21 left.
• The Lady Statesmen held UAH to just four free throws the rest of the way to hold on for the 64-53 victory.
• UAH finished 16-of-43 (37 percent), while the Lady Statesmen were 19-of-48 (40 percent). DSU was 3-of-5 from long-range. The Chargers were just 6-of-18. DSU outrebounded UAH 32-30, but forced 16 turnovers, while committing just nine.
• Caroline Dodd led the Chargers with 13 points. Rush finished with 18 points on 3-of-6 shooting and 10-10 from the free throw line. Gilbert added 17, while Kaelin Kneeland chipped in 11. Gilbert had six boards and Kneeland put up five boards.

 
Notables:           

• Rush's 18 points marks a career high.

 
Who's Next:

• The Lady Statesmen hit the road for trips to Valdosta State and West Florida next week. Delta State plays Valdosta State on Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. in Valdosta, Ga., and then will square off against West Florida on Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. in Pensacola, Fla.