GAME NOTES: Lady Statesmen at LeMoyne, host Miles College
CLEVELAND, Miss.-- The Delta State University women's basketball team (5-1, 1-1 GSC) returns to the hardwood against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes LeMoyne Owen College (1-3) and Miles College (5-2). The Lady Statesmen travel Memphis, Tenn., to battle LeMoyne Owen at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday before returning to Walter Sillers Coliseum to host Miles on Saturday at 2 p.m.
INSIDE THE SERIES: Delta State and LeMoyne Owen are meeting for 12th time on the hardwood with the Lady Statesmen owning an 11-0 record in the series, including a 3-0 mark at Bruce Johnson Hall in Memphis, Tenn. The Lady Statesmen and Bears also battle for the 12th time with the Lady Statesmen holding a 10-1 lead in the series and are 6-0 at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
LADY STATESMEN REWIND: Nia Johnson's 17 points led three players in double figures and helped the No. 15 Delta State Women's basketball team claim a 67-55 win over West Alabama on Monday at Pruitt Hall in Livingston, Ala. Delta State outscored the Tigers 12-5 during a stretch in the fourth quarter to take a 61-50 lead en route to the win.
Kirstin Brown followed Johnson with a season-high 14 points and 12 rebounds for her second career-double while
Shaniyah Buford equaled her career-high with 13 points.
Zyaire Ewing grabbed 16 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots while
Quantesha Patterson added eight points and 15 rebounds (7 offensive rebounds).
POST IT NOTE: Quantesha Patterson and
Zyaire Ewing have proving to be a tough duo in the paint for the Lady Statesmen. The duo is averaging a combined 27.5points and 25.5 rebounds per contest. Patterson leads the GSC and ranks 2nd in the GSC in total rebounds (86) and ranks 2nd in the NCAA and 1st in the GSC in rebounds per game (14.3). The Maben, Miss., native leads the GSC and NCAA grabbing 7.2 offensive boards per game while ranking 11th in the GSC in scoring (14.7). Ewing ranks 20th in the GSC in scoring (12.8), 2nd in rebounds (67) and 3rd in rebounds per game (11.2/14th NCAA). Ewing ranks 1st in defensive rebounds (8.5/7th NCAA) and 4th in blocked shots (11) and blocks per game (1.8). As a team, the Lady Statesmen lead the league in offensive boards per game (18.3/4th NCAA), 2nd in the League in rebounds per game (46.5/11th NCAA), and 3rd in rebound margin (8.3/34th NCAA).
PICKING POCKETS: The Lady Statesmen have a GSC best 52 steals and are 3rd in steals per game (12.0/27th NCAA) steals per game.
Nia Johnson leads the GSC in steals ( 21) and is 2nd in steals per game (3.5/14th NCAA).
Ernesha Chatman is 4th in the GSC in steals per game (2.67) and 13 steals (16) while
Zyaire Ewing is 11th with seven steals.
D-FENCE: The Green-and-White is 4th in the GSC in scoring defense (58.8) and 3rd in 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.0). West Alabama is allowing 50.1 points followed by Lee (54.0) and Auburn-Montgomery (55.9) points per game. The Lady Statesmen led the NCAA in 2015-16 (50.3) and 2013-14 (53.7), ranked 2nd in 2011-12 (51.4), 5th in 2014-15 (55.7), 10th in 2017-18 (56.5) and 16th in 2016-17 (57.1). Since 2011-12, the Lady Statesmen have ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense five of the last eight years.
NOTES, SIDEBARS & STORYLINES
MORE D-FENSE: In 24 quarters, the Lady Statesmen have held opponents to single digits in seven times. The Lady Statesmen yielded a quarter-low five points in the fourth quarter against Lane College (11.15.19). Delta State held Paine College (11.16.19) to nine points in the third quarter and seven points in the fourth quarter for a season-low 16 points in a half. As a team, the Lady Statesmen are 3rd in the conference in turnover margin (4.33) and 5th in blocked shots per game (3.3) and blocked shots (20).
PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES: Nia Johnson has made 36-of-97 field goals, ranking 2nd and 9th, respectively in the GSC.
Quantesha Patterson is 2nd in the GSC in field goal percentage (55.9) and 10th in field goals made (33).
FREEBIES: Zyaire Ewing is 22-of-26 from the charity stripe, ranking 8th in the GSC at 83.3 percent while ranking 5th in free throws made (25) and 8th in the free throws attempted (30).
Quantesha Patterson is 22-of-36, ranking 5th in attempts and 9th in free throws made.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES (Career):
Quantesha Patterson (10) has recorded four double-doubles in six games which leads the GSC and 8th nationally in double-doubles entering this week.
2019-20 Double-Doubles - 4: 18 pts. | 17 Rebs vs. Montevallo (11.23); 16 pts. | 19 rebs. (Career-High) vs. Nova Southeastern (11.9); 21 pts. | 11 rebs. vs. Lane College (11.15); 17 pts. | 13 rebounds vs. Paine (11.16);
Zyaire Ewing (3): 2019-20 Double-Doubles - 1: 28 pts. (Career-High) | 15 rebs. vs. Nova Southeastern (11.9).
Kirstin Brown (2) 14 pts. 12 rebs. vs. West Alabama (11.25.19).
D2SIDA REGION POLL: Delta State is tied for fourth with the University of Montevallo in the D2SIDA South Region Poll behind top-ranked Lee University, Valdosta State, and Union.
