CLEVELAND, Miss. — The Delta State University Lady Statesmen battled through a tightly contested conference matchup Saturday afternoon but fell to Lee University, 50-46, in overtime at Sillers Coliseum.

The Lady Statesmen led for more than 22 minutes of game time and held a seven-point advantage midway through the fourth quarter before Lee closed regulation on a late run and outscored Delta State 7-3 in the extra period.

Delta State trailed 13-8 after the first quarter but responded with a strong second frame, outscoring Lee 14-9 to take a 22-22 tie into halftime. DSU continued its momentum in the third quarter, using solid defensive play and interior scoring to grab a 30-27 lead entering the final 10 minutes.

The Lady Statesmen extended the margin to as many as seven points late in the fourth quarter, but Lee answered with timely baskets and free throws to force overtime. In the extra period, Lee connected on key shots down the stretch to seal the win.

Alyse Holliman led Delta State with 10 points and nine rebounds, anchoring the Lady Statesmen in the paint. Adyson Roberts added eight points off the bench, while Jariyah Williamson chipped in seven points. Bailey Featherstone and Olivia Allen contributed six and four points, respectively, as Delta State outscored Lee 25-12 in bench points.

Delta State finished with a 24-22 edge in points in the paint and forced 21 Lee turnovers, converting those miscues into 18 points. The Lady Statesmen also held a rebounding advantage for much of the game before Lee narrowly finished ahead, 42-39.

The contest featured six ties and seven lead changes, underscoring the back-and-forth nature of the matchup.

Delta State will return to action against in-state rival Mississippi College on Saturday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Clinton.