Nationally fourth-ranked Delta State closed the game on a 14-2 run to defeat the nationally 21st-ranked Florida Southern Moccasins 72-67 in the women’s NCAA Division II Tournament South Regional semifinals at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday night.
Delta State (28-3) advances to face nationally top-ranked Arkansas Tech (29-2) in the NCAA Division II South Region championship game at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 14, at Tucker Coliseum.
Florida Southern (26-5) led 65-58 with 4:01 remaining, but the Mocs did not make a field goal the rest of the way.
Delta State tied the score at 65-65 on a Brooke Rhodes’ 3-pointer with 1:44 left. Bug Cooper’s jumper with 1:03 to go put the Lady Statesmen in front for good as they earned a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth.
DSU put it away by making 4-of-4 at the free throw line over the final 24 seconds.
Veronica Walker scored 28 points and pulled six rebounds for the Lady Statesmen. She was 11-of-17 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
Cooper had 18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Chelsea Johnson scored 21 points and Emma Cannon added 20 points and 14 rebounds for Florida Southern.
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