LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The Delta State University women's basketball team had four players in double-figures and withstood a late rally by West Alabama in a 60-57 victory over the Tigers on Thursday night at Pruitt Hall.
 
Inside the Matchup:
    Score: Delta State 60 | West Alabama 57
    Records: Lady Statesmen (13-13, 10-11 GSC) | Tigers (7-21, 4-17 GSC)
    Series: DSU leads series 48-6
    Location: Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.
 
How It Happened:

• West Alabama jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead on a Sydney King three-pointer and Ariel Wilson layup. 
• Delta State scored the next six points to take the lead, however, as Kaelin Kneeland knocked down two shots and Ieysha Mays added a layup as both sides went back-and-forth early.
• UWA held an 11-10 lead after the first quarter, but the Lady Statesmen used an 11-3 run to start the second quarter to take a seven point, 21-14 lead.
• The Tigers answered the call, hitting back-to-back jumpers to close the margin to three points, but Delta State closed out the half on a 5-1 run grabbing the 26-19 lead going into halftime.
• Delta State shot 11-of-26 (42 percent) in the opening half, while UWA was just 7-of-23 (30 percent). Kneeland was 4-of-9 from the field as she led the team with nine points. Jackson and Mays both chipped in six points as well to combine for four assists. Ariel Wilson led the Tigers with seven points. 
• Both sides went back-and-forth to start the third quarter, but a Mays layup sparked a 10-4 run to extend the lead by 13 points with 3:56 to go.
• The Tigers began to chip away making a trio of free throws, a layup and a three-pointer to close the margin to 10 points entering the fourth quarter.
• A Rush free throw and Kneeland layup opened up the final stanza, but West Alabama had the hot hand going on an 11-4 to cut the Lady Statesmen lead to just four points.
• Kneeland nailed a jumper, however, but Sydney King answered hitting a layup and three-pointer to spark an 11-2 run that led to the Tigers tying the game 54-54 with 1:54 to go.
• A pass from Kneeland to find Gilbert down low to nail a layup and draw the foul along with two Rush free throws pushed the lead back to a two possession game.
• Ariel Wilson drew a foul on the West Alabama side and made both free throws to bring it back to a two-point ballgame.
• With 12 seconds to go, Carly Keller drew a foul and made one of her two attempts to see the Lady Statesmen grab a 60-57 lead and one they would hold on to in a three-point victory over the Tigers.
• Delta State finished 25-of-54 (42.3 percent) from the floor, including just 2-for-8 (25 percent) from three-point territory. DSU went 8-of-11 from the free throw line. The Tigers shot 19-of-46 (41.3 percent from the floor), made 13-of-20 from the free throw line and knocked down just 6-of-14 attempts from three. 
• Kneeland led the way with 15 points for DSU, while Mays added 12, Gilbert added 11 and Jackson rounded out with 10. Keller, Rush and Mallory finished with a combined 12 points.
• Ariel Wilson led the way for UWA, scoring 18 points. King added 14 for the visitors. 

 
Notables:            

• Delta State forced West Alabama into 11 turnovers and 30% shooting from the floor in the first half.
• Junior Ieysha Mays scored a career-high 12 points, while Kaelin Kneeland tallied a career-high six assists for the Lady Statesmen.
• The game marked the 15th time this year DSU had at least three players in double-figures.

Who's Next:

• The Lady Statesmen close out the regular season in Carrollton, Ga. against the Wolves on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.