CLEVELAND, Miss. – Zyaire Ewing and Quantesha Patterson combined for 44 points and 34 rebounds to lead the Delta State University Women's Basketball team to an 85-78 victory over No. 19 Nova Southeastern University (0-2) in the final game of the Gulf South Conference-Sunshine State Conference Crossover on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
 
The Lady Statesmen (2-0) snapped a five-game losing streak to NSU with the win.

Ewing scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds while Patterson added 16 points and a season-high 19 boards.       

THE BASICS:
Score: Delta State 85 | No. 19 Nova Southeastern 78
Records:  Lady Statesmen (2-0) | Sharks (0-2)
Series: Nova Southeastern leads 5-1
Location | Time: Walter Sillers Coliseum | 8:10 PM
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HOW IT HAPPENED

• Using a full court press early, the Lady Statesmen jumped out to a 16-9 lead on the No. 19 Sharks at the 2:54 media timeout of the 1^st quarter. DSU forced eight NSU turnovers during the stretch, leading to seven points.
• Delta State maintained a five-point advantage, 20-15, at the end of the 1^st quarter. Nia Johnson led the Lady Statesmen with five points while Quantesha Patterson, Zyaire Ewing and Ernesha Chatman chipped in with four points apiece.
• Nova SE began the 2^nd quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 21-20 lead with 8:10 remaining in the half. Jordan Tully led the Sharks with eight points at that point in the contest.
• T'Kyra Hicks' jumper and with 2:26 to go in the 2^nd quarter put the Lady Statesmen up 33-27.
• At the half, Delta State held a 37-35 edge on the No. 19 Sharks. Ewing led the Lady Statesmen with 11 at the break while Nova's Jordan Tully led all scorers with 13 points.
• Both teams shot 45 percent and had 20 points apiece in the paint. DSU forced 14 Sharks turnovers leading to 13 points with NSU scoring 10 points off nine Lady Statesmen turnovers.
• A 3-pointer by Iva Ilic and a runner in the lane from Julia Kelner gave the Sharks their first lead of the 3^rd quarter, 48-47, at the 4:59 media timeout.
• Claire McMahon's 3-point play with 5.5 seconds on the clock in the 3^rd quarter gave the Sharks a 61-58 lead at the end of the period.
• After trailing by five in the early moments of the 4^th quarter, an 11-0 run by the Lady Statesmen erased the deficit and put Delta State up 69-63 with 6:29 to go.
• The Sharks cut the deficit to four, 74-70, with 2:44 to play on a free throw by Ilic.
• DSU outscored the Sharks 11-8 over the waning moments of the contest for the 85-78 victory.                                 

 
TURNING POINT

• After trailing by five in the early moments of the 4^th quarter, an 11-0 run by the Lady Statesmen erased the deficit and put Delta State up 69-63 with 6:29 to go.

 
STATS OF THE GAME

• Delta State forced 26 Nova turnovers leading to 27 points.
• The Lady Statesmen out-rebounded the Sharks 42-28.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Ewing and Patterson recorded double-doubles for the Lady Statesmen, as the duo combined for 44 points and 34 rebounds.
• Nia Johnson (15), Ernesha Chatman (12) and Shaniyah Buford (11) also scored in double figures.
• Ilic (21) and McMahoin (15) also scored in double digits for the Sharks.     
• Over 75 Lady Statesmen alumni and legendary head coach Lloyd Clark were in attendance at Friday's game to start their Homecoming Reunion.
• The Lady Statesmen are picked fourth the Preseason GSC Coaches poll behind defending GSC Tournament Champion Lee University, Union University and West Florida.

 
UP NEXT

• Delta State (1-0) travels to Birmingham, Ala., next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16 to play in the GSC-SIAC Crossover. The Lady Statesmen open the two-day tournament with Lane College on Friday. Tipoff is set for 4 PM at Knox-Windham Gym on the campus of Miles College.