[February 15, 2007]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas had seventh-ranked Delta State by the throat, but couldn’t hold on, falling 52-50 Thursday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. It was the Lady Statesmen’s (20-3, 10-1 GSC) seventh consecutive win as they prevented the Lady Muleriders (11-12, 7-4) from taking a season sweep. SAU defeated DSU, 52-49, earlier in the season in their first win ever at Cleveland, Miss. Delta State now owns a 21-3 advantage in the series.

Rushing down-court with 5.7 ticks left, Southern Arkansas guard Brooke Grigsby did all she could, but missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have tied it up. The Lady Muleriders held an 11-point lead at 5:34 in the first half, but watched it slip away as they couldn’t buy a basket the rest of the way.

SAU was up 26-24 at halftime and the two teams played tag the first five minutes of the second stanza. Cassandra Henry’s lay-up gave Southern Arkansas a 32-31 margin at 14:45 which sparked a 12-5 run by the homers, and it looked as if they had things under control with a 44-36 edge at 6:16. Not so, as DSU chipped away, pulling even at 48-48 on Brittani Calhoun’s jumper at 1:44. Calhoun’s foul on Goldie White allowed the Lady Muleriders to move back in front on both free throws, before Jennifer Rushing hit one of two from the line off White’s personal, 50-49, SAU. White’s missed jumper with 36 seconds left bounded to Calhoun and after a Delta State timeout, Rushing’s jumper put the Lady Statesmen up 51-50. Southern Arkansas had to foul and caught a break when Rushing missed the front end of a one-and-one, but DSU got the board. This time Rushing hit the back end of the bonus free throw for what would be the final margin before Grigsby’s desperation shot was off.

Delta State scored the first bucket of the game, but it was all Lady Muleriders for the remainder of the first frame. SAU hit 10 of its first 13 shots, the final on Kim Davis’ jumper for their 11-point lead. Southern Arkansas didn’t score again, missing their final 10 shots in the last 5:34, as the Lady Statesmen scored nine to pull within two at the break.

Rebounding was crucial as the smaller DSU squad held a 37-23 advantage on the boards. Delta State outscored the Lady Muleriders 13-2 on second-chance points. Rushing pulled down 11 and Kirsten McBride had seven, six offensive.

Jessica Boyd had 13 points in leading the Lady Statesmen, while Rushing chipped in nine and dished out all three of DSU’s assists.

White recorded 16 points, and added four assists and three steals before fouling out in the final seconds. Davis contributed 15 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. No other SAU player scored more than five as Henry, Grigsby, and Stefanie White all finished with the quintet.

Delta State hit 19 of 49 (38.8 percent) from the field, two of five on three-pointers (40.0), and were 12 of 20 (60.0) at the free throw line. Southern Arkansas was 20 of 46 (43.5), six of 18 (33.3), and shot only six freebies, converting on four (66.7).

Despite the loss, the Lady Muleriders have clinched a berth in the Gulf South Conference tournament which runs February 28-March 4 in Southaven, Miss. SAU travels to Arkadelphia Saturday to take on Ouachita Baptist in a 3 p.m. contest.

#SAU#