CARROLLTON, Ga. -  Alondrea Rush hit a pair of three-point shots in overtime and Kaelin Kneeland added 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds as the Delta State University women's basketball team punched it's ticket to the Gulf South Conference playoffs with a win over the University of West Georgia, 61-56, at The Coliesum in Carrollton, Ga.
 
Inside the Matchup:
    Score: Delta State 61 | West Georgia 56
    Records: Lady Statesmen (14-13, 11-11 GSC) | Wolves (14-12, 13-9 GSC)
    Series: DSU leads series 36-5
    Location: The Coliseum | Carrollton, Ga.
 
How It Happened:

• Delta State jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after a Alondrea Rush three-pointer and Anissa Jackson jumper early in the first quarter.
• West Georgia had an answer, though, with a De'Ashia Jones jumper and a layup from A'kia Harris to narrow the margin to one point.
• At the 3:33 mark, Rush hit a jumper to widen the lead by three points, but the Wolves closed out the period on a 4-0 run to claim their first lead of the day.
• West Georgia continued its run as the second quarter started with a Harris layup and Bre'ana Singleton jumper to extend the lead, 13-7.
• Late in the second quarter, both teams traded buckets, but Delta State went on a 5-1 run to close the margin to two points as both teams went into the locker room.
• Delta State shot 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) in the opening half, while UWG was just 7-of-26 (26.9 percent). Rush was 3-of-6 from the field as she led the team with seven points. Jackson chipped in six points as well to combine for four assists. Aysha Harris led the Wolves with seven points and two rebounds.
• West Georgia had the hot-hand coming out to start the second half, as back-to-back layups to widen the gap to five points.
• At the 7:41 mark, Harris made both free throws at the charity stripe for the Wolves, but back-to-back Jackson jumpers tied the game for the first time.
• West Georgia reclaimed the lead after a trio of free throws, but a pair of Gilbert layups and Kneeland free throws gave the Lady Statesmen their first lead since the first quarter and helped tie the game 33-33 to close the third quarter.
• DSU reclaimed the lead at the start of the fourth quarter with a pair of Jackson free throws but West Georgia answered, going on a 9-0 run.
• After a five minute scoring drought, Kneeland sparked a 7-0 run that saw the Lady Statesmen tie it back up 42-42 with three minutes in the game.
• Jones hit a trio of free throws for the Wolves to climb back to a 45-42 lead, however, a pair of Kneeland free throws and a Jackson jumper gave Delta State back a one-point lead.
• As time expired Tori Mallory missed a jumper with four seconds to go as both sides headed to overtime.
• The Lady Statesmen conceded the first overtime bucket, but a Kneeland layup ignited a 9-0 run, including Rush hitting back-to-back threes, to give the Lady Statesmen a seven point lead, the largest of the game.
• Both sides traded a combined 10 free throws in the final minute with West Georgia nailing a layup and free throw with 10 seconds to go, but Delta State held on to claim the 61-56 victory.
• Delta State finished 19-of-65 (29 percent) from the floor, including just 3-for-12 (25 percent) from three-point territory. DSU went 20-of-25 from the free throw line. The Wolves shot 17-of-55 (31 percent from the floor), made 21-of-33 from the free throw line and knocked down just 1-of-10 attempts from three. 
• Rush and Kneeland led the way with 17 points each for DSU, while Jackson added 16 and Gilbert added seven. Ross and Mays finished with a combined four points.
• De'Ashia Jones led the way for UWG, scoring 21 points. Harris added 15 for the home team. 

 
Notables:            

• The Lady Statesmen punched their ticket for the GSC Tournament, clinching the seven seed.
• Kneeland set career-highs in rebounding against UWG this season. In the first matchup, Kneeland snared 12 rebounds, and then set a new career-high with 13 rebounds in the second game. 
• Kneeland also notched her third double-double of the year and went 11-of-13 from the free throw, a career-high. 
• Rush recorded her first career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. 
• The game marked the 15th time this season Rush has been the only Lady Statesmen player to make a three-point field goal. 
• The game marked the 16th time this year DSU had at least three players in double-figures.

Who's Next:

• The Lady Statesmen punched their ticket to the GSC conference tournament, clinching the seventh seed in the playoffs. They will travel to play Valdosta State on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The time is to-be-determined.