Delta State University used a sizable rebounding edge to defeat nationally 15th-ranked Arkansas Tech University 72-57 in non-conference women’s basketball at Walter Sillers Coliseum in Cleveland, Miss., on Sunday afternoon.
The Lady Statesmen (3-0) out-rebounded the Golden Suns 42-27. Delta State finished with an 11-4 edge in second-chance points and a 23-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
“I thought the biggest factor was rebounding,” said Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Wilbers. “We didn’t rebound with them on either end. You have to have more than two or three players going for rebounds to beat a team of this caliber on the road. I told the team after the game this was a non-conference game…we just have to learn from it and get better.”
Delta State took the lead for good at 13-11 on a Mary Carol Davis 3-pointer with 2:43 left in the first quarter. The Lady Statesmen led 18-13 after the first period, 37-28 at halftime and 55-42 at the end of the third quarter.
The Golden Suns (4-1) made it interesting with an 8-0 run to pull within 60-52 with 4:20 left, but a put-back basket by DSU’s Becca Ruckes less than a minute later stopped Tech’s momentum. The Lady Statesmen maintained at least a nine-point lead the rest of the way.
Fatima Adams led the Suns with 18 points and seven rebounds. Tech’s Calli White matched her season high with 15 points.
Alondrea Rush, who came in averaging 1.5 points per game, scored 16 points for Delta State. Ruckes finished with 14 points.
The Golden Suns will resume the Great American Conference portion of their 2015-16 schedule on Thursday, Dec. 3, when they welcome Oklahoma Baptist University to Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
Tickets will be available at the door. Those with a valid Arkansas Tech identification card will be admitted free of charge. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
