FLORENCE, Ala. - The Delta State University women's basketball team held North Alabama to its lowest scoring outputs in a quarter and in a fist half, then survived a late surge from North Alabama in knocking off the Lions at Flowers Hall 55-52. 
 
Inside the Matchup:
    Score:  Delta State 55 | North Alabama 52
    Records:  Lady Statesmen (8-10, 5-8 GSC) | Lions (15-4, 9-4 GSC)
    Series: DSU leads series 51-8
    Location: Flowers Hall | Florence, Ala.

How It Happened:

• Delta State and North Alabama went scoreless from the field for the first 2:40 of the game.
• Alondrea Rush's three-pointer put the visitors on the board first, and DSU took an early 5-2 lead.
• North Alabama's first field goal came at the 2:05 mark of the first quarter, as Michaela DeKilder got an easy transition layup to roll in. 
• The Lady Statesmen closed the opening stanza on an 11-2 run to lead 16-4 after one quarter of play. 
• UNA opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run, sparked by an Ivy Wallen three-point field goal. 
• Ieysha Mays hit a layup at the 5:41 mark of the to end the scoreless drought to start the second quarter for the Lady Statesmen. 
• DSU closed out the second quarter on a 4-2 run and maintained a 22-17 lead as both teams went into the locker room.
• The Lady Statesmen shot 10-of-27 (37 percent) in the first half including going 1-of-4 from three (25 percent) and 1-of-3 from the charity stripe (33 percent).
• Aspriona Gilbert led the way for DSU at the break with six points, while Alondrea Rush added five points and Anissa Jackson and Iyesha Mays grabbed five boards in the opening half. 
• The Lions went 6-of-22 (27 percent) from the floor in the first half and shot just 1-of-8 from three-point land (13 percent). UAH hit 4-of-7 from the free throw line.
• The Lady Statesmen opened the third quarter on a 13-4 run that started with a Kneeland layup and free throw then a huge three by Rush as the shot clock expired.
• Late in the third quarter, UNA started a comeback hitting back-to-back three-pointers from Emma Wallen, but DSU maintained 46-32 lead as the quarter ended.
• The Lions came out strong in the final stanza with a 8-2 run to close the margin to eight points with five minutes left in the game.
• UNA climbed back to a three point margin late in the final quarter, but that wasn't enough as Delta State claimed the 55-52 victory.
• UNA finished 18-of-49 (37 percent), while the Lady Statesmen were 20-of-50 (40 percent). UNA was 3-of-17 from long-range. The Lady Statesmen were just 3-of-11. Delta State out-rebounded UNA 39-31, and forced 14 turnovers, scoring 13 points off those.
• Rush led with 15 points and three rebounds while Gilbert had 14 and Kneeland finished with 13 points Mays led the team with 11 boards while Jackson secured seven.. Ivy Wallen led North Alabama with 17 points while Emma Wallen scored 10 for the Lions.

 
Notables:          

• The Lady Statesmen only allowed UNA four points in the first quarter, which was a season-low.
• DSU also set a season-low by only allowing UNA 17 points at halftime.
• Rush's 15 points puts her in double-figures for the 14th time this season.

 
Who's Next:

• The Lady Statesmen now get five consecutive home games, beginning with a game against West Florida on Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 will be Organization Night as well at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Delta State campus organizations will compete for a chance at $200/$100 donation prizes and the DSU Spirit Cup. Community organizations can use the code "DSUORG17" to get 50% off online ticket purchases.