Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. – Nova Southeastern's Kayla Wright scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Sharks (1-0) to a 57-53 victory over the Lady Statesmen (0-1) of Delta State in the season-opener for both teams on Friday, Nov. 10 in the GSC/SSC Crossover Classic at Fred Delay Gymnasium. Alondrea Rush led the Lady Statesmen with 14 points while Simone Jackson added a career-high 12 points and six rebounds in the loss.       
 
THE BASICS

• Score: Nova Southeastern 57, Delta State 53
• Records: Sharks (1-0) | Lady Statesmen (0-1)
• Date: Friday, Nov. 10 | 5 p.m. Tipoff
• Location: Fred Delay Gymnasium | Jackson, Tenn.
• Attendance: 455
• Series: Nova Southeastern leads the all-time series 4-0
• Get Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateWBB | Facebook – DSUStatesmen | Instagram – DSUAthletics

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lady Statesmen jumped out to a fast start in the season-opener against the Sharks, taking a 12-3 lead at the 5:38 mark of the first quarter on Takisha Jordan's jumper from the corner.
• Nova Southeastern answered with 7-4 run to end the first quarter trailing Delta State 16-10.
• Erin Kate Richardson's 3-pointer with 8:47 to go in the second quarter put the Lady Statesmen up 19-10.
• Nathalia Leaks' three from the top of the key made it a five-point game, 19-14 with 7:14 to play in the half.
• The Lady Statesmen ended the half with a 27-20 lead after shooting 36-percent from the field (9-25) and 100-percent from the free throw line (8-8). NSU shot 30.4-percent (7-23) and were 0-for-8 from 3-point range at the break. The Sharks out-rebounded DSU 17-13, but the Lady Statesmen forced 11 NSU turnovers to their four.
• Delta State's Alondrea Rush led all scorers at the break with 10 points. Takisha Jordan added six points while Erin Kate Richardson dropped in five points.
• Nova opened the third quarter on a 15-2 run, taking a 35-29 lead with 5:25 to play in the frame.
• Simone Jackson converted a rebound and put-back with 4:24 left in the third closed the NSU lead to 35-33 for the Lady Statesmen.
• The Sharks closed the third quarter on an 8-1 run to lead 45-36.
• Delta State cut it to a 5-point NSU lead, 45-40, on Jackson's free throw with 7:50 to play in the game.
• NSU's Piggott and Hughes helped extend the Sharks lead to 50-44 with 4:50 to play.
• DSU's Raven Johnson once again cut it to four points, 50-46, with a driving lay-up with 3:56 to play.
• Alexis Ross converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:12 left in the game, slashing the Sharks' lead to one, 52-51.
• Nova iced away the final 1:10 making 5-of-6 at the free throw line to claim a 57-53 victory.
• NSU finished the game shooting 43.4-percent (19-44) from the floor and 70.8-percent from the free throw line (17-24). The Sharks, known for their 3-point shooting, managed just 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) from 3-point range.
• The Lady Statesmen were 20-of-57 from the floor for 35.1 percent, while connecting on 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the free throw line.
• The Sharks out-rebounded the Lady Statesmen 37-26, but DSU forced 18 NSU turnovers that led to 17 points.          

Notables:

• Rush led three Lady Statesmen in double figures with 14 points. Jackson added 12 points and six rebounds, while Jordan scored 10 points.
• NSU's Kayla Wright led all scorers with 18 points and nine rebounds. Alison Hughes chipped in 11 points.
• The Sharks used a 25-9 third quarter to build their lead.
• Jackson's 12 points and six rebounds were both career highs for the 6-foot-1 sophomore forward from Pass Christian, Miss.

  
Up Next:

• The Lady Statesmen face Barry University on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. in the final game of the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Crossover Tournament at Fred Delay Gym in Jackson, Tenn.