[March 3, 2007]

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – Fifth-ranked Delta State pretty much had Southern Arkansas’ number from the start, rolling to a 57-41 semi-final round victory Saturday in the Gulf South Conference tournament at the DeSoto Civic Center.

The Lady Statesmen’s usual stifling defense was even more effective, holding the Lady Muleriders to 20.7 percent shooting on a 12 for 58 performance, and preventing all-conference center Kim Davis from scoring a single point. Davis, who had never been held scoreless in her collegiate career, came up short on 11 attempts from the field, including missing two from beyond the arc, and never even made it to the free throw line.

While SAU was hitting only eight of 32 shots (25.0) in the first half, DSU knocked down 14 of 28 (50.0) to take a 33-26 lead into the locker room. It would have been more if Southern Arkansas’ Goldie White hadn’t banked in a deep shot at the buzzer to trim it to a seven-point game.

After Delta State hit two free throws to start the second stanza, Brooke Grigsby’s jumper pulled the Lady Muleriders back to within seven, 35-28, at 18:09, and that was as close as it would be. The Lady Statesmen rattled off a 12-3 run over the next 10 minutes, holding a 47-31 margin at 8:01, and eventually held 18-point edges twice late in the game.

Trailing 4-0 at the outset, SAU scored eight unanswered for their largest lead at 16:10, before DSU responded. Southern Arkansas couldn’t buy a bucket over the next five minutes until Grigsby’s trey knotted it at 11 with 11:36 left. White’s jumper pulled the Lady Muleriders to within one at 8:23, but Delta State used a 9-0 spree from there for a 24-14 lead at 5:04, before settling for the advantage at the break.

The Lady Statesmen tailed off in the second frame, but still got 23 of 53 shots for 43.4 percent in the game. SAU got only four field goals in the second half on 26 attempts (15.4).

Jennifer Rushing led DSU with 11 points and dished out a game-high six assists. Rebekah Brown chipped in 10 points and had eight boards. Brittani Calhoun pulled down 10 rebounds.

White had game-scoring honors with 13 points, and served up three assists. Grigsby added 10 points and had three steals, and Cassandra Henry pulled down 17 rebounds, while scoring eight points.

Delta State crushed Southern Arkansas on the boards, 46-35, using that advantage for a 32-10 difference on inside scoring, and 11-3 on second-chance points.

The Lady Statesmen (25-3) advance to the championship game where they face Arkansas Tech, a 62-51 winner over Valdosta State.

The Lady Muleriders finish the season at 14-14, and will lose four seniors off this year’s squad as Davis, Grigsby, Henry, and Beth Grigsby played their final games.

#SAU#