MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Grace Watson would knock down a turnaround jumper as the shot clock would expire with nine seconds remaining to lift the Delta State University women's basketball team (3-2, 0-0 GSC) to a 42-41 victory over Southern Arkansas (4-1, 0-0 GAC) Friday evening in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center at Southern Arkansas.
 
The Hazel Green, Ala., native led the Lady Statesmen offense with 12 points and seven rebounds in the winning effort.
 
Delta State would start the game off with a 5-0 run from Dakiya Toney and Madi Kate Vuncannon as Vuncannon and Toney would make their first starts of the season. Southern Arkansas would answer going on a 19-0 run to finish the first quarter, taking a 19-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
In the second quarter, the Green and White would outscore the Muleriders 8-7. DSU would shine on the defensive end in quarter number two as they would force nine of Southern Arkansas' 22 turnovers.  Martyna Czescik would knock down a three to cut the lead to seven points with 2:47 remaining but Southern Arkansas would take a 26-17 lead into the half.
 
The Lady Statesmen defense would continue to make life difficult for Southern Arkansas in the second half as they would force four turnovers before an Olivia Allen three ball would make it a two-point game with 4:12 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Delta State would trail by a possession, with momentum going into the fourth 32-29. An early Czescik three would tie the game up at 32 with 8:19 before the Muleriders would make a 6-0 run give them a 38-32 lead with 6:37 to play.
 
The Green and White would fight back to make it a one possession game at 38-35 with just over four minutes to go. Southern Arkansas would take a 41-35 lead with 3:25 to go.
In the final 3:25, the Lady Statesmen would make four consecutive stops on the defensive end, getting the ball down one with 55 seconds to go. With 15 seconds left, Vuncannon would find Watson, sealing her defender deep in the paint as a left-handed hook shot would beat the shot clock with nine seconds remaining on the game clock.
 
The Lady Statesmen will return home this upcoming Tuesday, Nov. 26 as they will host the Lady Bisons from Harding University. Tip off will be at 5:30 p.m., (CDT) from Walter Sillers Coliseum.