GAME NOTES: Delta State WBB at CBU/Union

CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta State University women's basketball (15-5, 8-5 GSC) hits the road for a pair of Gulf South Conference games starting against Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before taking on Union University on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Jackson, Tenn.
 

INSIDE THE SERIES: Delta State has a 48-5 record heading into the 54th meeting with Christian Brothers on the hardwood. The Lady Statesmen have won the last two meetings between the two schools after an 89-85 overtime win back on January 18, 2020.  The Lady Statesmen and Bulldogs tangle for the second time this season and 18th time overall.  Union claimed a 63-59 win on Jan. 16, 2020 to claim a 9-8 lead in the series. The Bulldogs have won the last six meetings and are 5-2 record at Fred DeLay Gym in Jackson, Tenn.

MILESTONE WINS MARK:  Lady Statesmen Head Coach Craig Roden posted his 100th win at Delta State while capturing his 400th NCAA Division II victory in the Lady Statesmen's 66-41 win over Auburn Montgomery (2.1.2020). The Guntersville, Ala., now set his sights on 600 career wins and is two shy of that mark with 598 career-win.

IN THE PAINT: The Lady Statesmen lead the GSC in offensive boards per game (15.9/21st NCAA) and rebounds per game (45.3/10th NCAA) while ranking 2nd in rebound margin (8.9/21st NCAA) and 3rd in rebounds (907/21st NCAA). The duo of Quantesha Patterson and Zyaire Ewing are proving to be a force in the paint, combining for 29.2 points and 24.1 rebounds per game. Patterson leads the GSC in rebounds per game (13.2/4th NCAA), and offensive rebounds (5.7/2nd NCAA), ranks 2nd in rebounds (263/5th NCAA) and 3rd in defensive rebounds (7.5/19th NCAA). The Maben, Miss., is 10th in the GSC in scoring (15.3). Ewing is 3rd in the GSC defensive rebounds per game (7.5/19th NCAA) and rebounds per game (11.0/14th NCAA), and 3rd in rebounds (2194/ 12th NCAA). Ewing is 2nd in blocked shots per game (1.8/39th NCAA) and blocked shots (36/35th NCAA). Patterson's 113 offensive rebounds tied for the most offensive boards since Caroline Boclair  who had 113 in 2000-01.

D-FENCE: The Green-and-White are 3rd in 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.5/ 18th NCAA) and 2nd in scoring defense (58.7/57th NCAA) and 3rd in field goal percentage defense (35.3/27th NCAA). 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.

PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES: Quantesha Patterson leads GSC in field goal percentage (62.5/7th NCAA) and 9th in field goals made (115). Nia Johnson is 6th in the GSC in field goals attempted (265) and Ewing ranks 15th in field goals made (103) and 5th in field goals attempted (268).

NOTES, SIDEBARS & STORY LINES
MORE D-FENSE: In 80 quarters, the Lady Statesmen have held opponents to single digits in 18 times, most recently holding Auburn Montgomery (2.1.2020) nine points in the second quarter and seven points in the third quarter. The Lady Statesmen yielded a quarter-low five points in the fourth quarter against Lane College (11.15.19). Delta State held Miles College (12.7.19) to six points in the first and seven points in the second quarter for a season-low 13 points in a half. As a team, the Lady Statesmen are 5th in the conference in turnovers forced per game (18.0), and 2nd in blocked shots per game (4.4/30st NCAA) and blocked shots (88/27th NCAA).

DOUBLE-DOUBLES (Career):  Quantesha Patterson (19) has recorded 13double-doubles in 16 games which is 2nd the GSC and 8th nationally and Ewing ranks 5th in the GSC with eight. 2019-20 Double-Doubles: 25 pts. | 15 rebs. vs. UAH (1.30.2020); 18 pts. | 10 rebs. vs. AUM (2.1.2020);  19 pts. | 22 rebs. (CH) vs. CBU (1.18.2020), 26 pts. | 15 rebs. vs. UU (1.16.2020), 13 pts. | 16 rebs. at VSU (1.11.2020), 20 pts. | 17 rebs. vs. Shorter (1.2.2020); 12 pts. | 13 rebs., vs. UWG (1.4.2020); 13 pts. | 13 rebs. vs. Miles (12.7.19), 18 pts. | 16 rebs. at LeMoyne Owen (12.5); 18 pts.,  17 rebs vs. Montevallo  (11.23); 16 pts.| 19 rebs. (CH)  vs. Nova SE (11.9);  21 pts. | 11  rebs. vs. Lane College (11.15);  17 pts. | 13 rebounds vs. Paine (11.16); Zyaire Ewing (12): 2019-20 Double-Doubles - 10: 14 pts. | 11 rebs. vs. UAH (1.30.2020); 15 pts. | 14 rebs. vs. AUM (2.1.2020); 14 pts. | 16 rebs. at UAH (1.23.2020), 12 pts. | 10 rebs. vs. CBU (1.18.2020),  14 pts. | 15 rebs. vs. Shorter (1.2.2020); 25 pts. | 13 rebs. vs. UWG (1.4.2020); 13 pts. | 15 rebs. vs. MC (12.21.19), 21 pts. | 10 rebs. vs. Arkansas-Monticello (12.18.19), 13 pts. | 10 rebs. vs. Paine College (11.156.19), 28 pts. (Career-High) | 15 rebs. vs. Nova  Southeastern (11.9). Kirstin Brown (3) 10 pts. | 11 rebs. vs. UWG (1.4.2020) 14 pts. 12 rebs. vs. UWA (11.25.19).

DROPPING DIMES: Ernesha Chatman is 2nd assists (89), 3rd in assists per game (4.57) and 5th in assist/turnover ratio (1.41).

PICKING POCKETS: Nia Johnson ranks 6th steals (45) and 4th steals per game (2.5/ 46th NCAA). Ernesha Chatman is 11th in the GSC in steals per game (2.1) and 8th in steals (42).