MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Delta State University women's basketball team erased a 39-26 third quarter deficit and stormed back to defeat Southern Arkansas 53-49, on Wednesday afternoon at the W.T. Watson Center.

THE BASICS:
    Score:  Delta State 53  | Southern Arkansas 49
    Records:  Lady Statesmen (3-5) | Lady Muleriders (0-8)
    Series: DSU leads series 33-4
    Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.

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TURNING POINT:

• Trailing 39-26 with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter, the Lady Statesmen closed out the game with a 27-10 run. DSU outscored SAU 15-6 in the final quarter.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Lady Statesmen were 8-of-26 (30.8) from the floor in the first half, while holding Southern Arkansas to just 9-of-35 (25.7 percent), including 2-for-9 from three point range.
• In the first half, Alondrea Rush led DSU with six points and five rebounds. Kimberly Crown and Sue Key each had eight points to lead SAU.
• The Lady Statesmen took advantage of seven first half turnovers by SAU, converting them into eight points.
• DSU was 13-of-31 (41.9 percent) in the second half, and finished 21-of-57 (36.8 percent). The Lady Statesmen held SAU to just 9-of-33 (27.3) in the second half to finish 18-of-68 (26.5 percent), including just 2-of-16 (12.5 percent) from long range
• After being outrebounded 25-20 in the first half, DSU owned a commanding 28-16 advantage in the second 20 minutes.
• After hitting going 2-of-5 from three point range in the first quarter, SAU was 0-for-11 the rest of the way.
• Maddy Sheraka scored nine second half points to lead the Lady Statesmen with 12, all of which came from three point range.
• Rush helped pace DSU with six points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Raven Johnson also had nine points and 11 rebounds to help lead the Lady Statesmen.
• The Lady Statesmen ended the game with a commanding 21-2 advantage in bench points.

 INSIDE THE FLOW:

• Takisha Jordan and Johnson led the Lady Statesmen with four points in the first quarter, but a pair of three pointers from Key helped SAU take a 15-13 lead after the opening 10 minutes.
• The teams combined for 22 missed shots in the second period, but Sheraka's three-pointer with 37 seconds left cut the SAU lead to 25-22 at halftime.
• After SAU went 4-of-9 from the floor to open the second half, taking a 39-26, lead with 3:26 left in the third, DSU stormed back with a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to 43-28 heading to the fourth.
• The Lady Muleriders managed to make just one of their first six shots to open the fourth quarter, helping DSU take a 49-47 lead on Sheraka's three-pointer with 5:20 left.
• DSU took the lead for good when Johnson made a free throw, making the score 50-49 with 2:32 left.
• The Lady Statesmen held SAU to just 10 points in the last 13:23, and two points over the last 7:06.

NOTABLES:

• The 12 points for Sheraka were a career-high.
• Johnson recorded a career-high nine points and 11 rebounds, while Rush tied her career high with 11 boards. Aliyah Herrod also recorded career-best numbers with eight points and four rebounds.
• DSU has now held three opponents below 28 percent from the floor.
• The 14 assists and 48 rebounds for the Lady Statesmen are both season high totals.
• DSU has held its last two opponents below 28 percent from the floor.

 
UP NEXT:
The Lady Statesmen begin a two-game Gulf South Conference road trip when they travel to face Auburn Montgomery on Saturday, Dec. 16 and West Georgia on Monday, Dec. 18.