WEEKLY RELEASE: NCAA Elite Eight Lady Statesmen Game Notes

CLEVELAND - For a second consecutive year, the Lady Statesmen (29-6) of Delta State University, Gulf South Conference champions, will be competing at the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight, hosted by St. Mary's University at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas. DSU earned its way into the Elite Eight with a thrilling, 50-49, victory over Ouachita Baptist University in the South Region Tournament final on Monday, March. 16. 

The Lady Statesmen have been one of the most successful programs in the history of women's collegiate basketball. Monday's win over OBU was the 950th all-time, the most by any women's program in NCAA Division II history. Delta State is appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the 21st time, boasting a 50-18 (.732) record in tournament play, including 13 trips to the Elite Eight. 

The storied history of Lady Statesmen basketball includes six national championships, 15 Gulf South Conference titles, and 13 NCAA regional trophies. 

This week, coach Sandra Rushing (176-42/7th year) and her squad hope to bring a seventh national title back to Cleveland. It would be the first title for DSU since coach Lloyd Clark won it all in 1991-1992.
A national title is all that is missing from the resume of this year's senior class. In the past four years, the Lady Statesmen are 120-14 (.895) on the court with four-straight Gulf South Conference championships, four-straight NCAA Tournament “Sweet 16” appearances, and two-straight trips to the Elite Eight. 

Delta State will face off with South Central Region champs West Texas A&M University (28-5) in game four of the Elite Eight on Tuesday, March 24. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m. The Lady Statesmen Sports Network will broadcast the game starting at 8 p.m. A complete bracket is available on page four. 

DELTA STATE MAKES 21st APPEARANCE IN NCAA DII TOURNAMENT
The Lady Statesmen, four-time defending GSC and back-to-back South Region champions, are making their 21st appearance all-time in the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament. DSU extended its own Gulf South Conference record for appearances to 21 last week at the South Region Tournament. In their 21 appearances, the Lady Statesmen are 50-18 (.732) with three NCAA DII National Championships. 

DSU's NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORDS (All GSC Records)
Appearances: 21
Record: 50-18
Winning Percentage: .732
Semifinal Appearances: Nine
Finals Appearances: Four
Championships: Three (1989, 1990, 1992)

LADY STATESMEN SEEKING FOURTH NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND SEVENTH OVERALL
Delta State enters the NCAA Elite Eight seeking its seventh national championship in school history. The Lady Statesmen claimed three-straight A.I.A.W. National championships from 1975, 1976, and 1977 under the legendary coach Margaret Wade. The Lady Statesmen would claim three additional NCAA titles after joining DII under former Delta legend Lloyd Clark. DSU took home the top prize in 1989, 1990, and 1992. Should the Lady Statesmen earn the national championship, it would snap a 15-year title drought.

CLEVELAND - TITLE TOWN
The Delta State University Lady Statesmen have dominated the Gulf South Conference over the years. The Lady Statesmen own virtually every GSC and NCAA Tournament record in the books. In NCAA history, DSU has appeared in a league-record 21 NCAA regionals with an all-time record of 50-18 (.732). The Lady Statesmen are making their 13th NCAA Elite Eight appearance, and have made nine semifinals and four championship appearances. The Lady Statesmen have claimed three NCAA National Championships (1989, 1990, and 1992) and three A.I.A.W. crowns (1975, 1976, and 1977). No other school in the GSC has claimed a national championship in women's basketball.

DELTA STATE BOASTS SIX NATIONAL TITLES
The Lady Statesmen of Delta State University have hoisted the national championship trophy six times in program history, more than any other Gulf South Conference school. While a member of the A.I.A.W., Delta State claimed three-straight championships from 1975-1977. The trifecta marked the first time in women's basketball history that a team claimed a three-peat. DSU would almost repeat the feat under Lloyd Clark, claiming three titles in four years. The Lady Statesmen were crowned NCAA Division II national champions in 1989, 1990, and 1992. No other current GSC member has claimed an NCAA or AIAW crown.
YEAR - TITLE - RECORD
1975 - A.I.A.W - 28-0
1976 - A.I.A.W. - 33-1
1977 - A.I.A.W. - 32-3
1989 - NCAA DII - 30-4
1990 - NCAA DII - 32-1
1992 - NCAA DII - 30-4

BACK-TO-BACK REGION TITLES
Despite an uncharacteristically slow start (1-4), coach Sandra Rushing found a way to get the most out of her squad this season, guiding DSU to back-to-back South Region titles with a 50-49 win over Ouachita Baptist on Monday, March 16. Last season, the green-and-white defeated Valdosta State 62-44 for the trophy. DSU is 26-3 against in-region foes.

LUCKY 13 FOR LADY STATESMEN
The Lady Statesmen are making their 13th trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament, and the women who wear the green-and-white have enjoyed success over the years, posting a 15-10 record overall, including three NCAA Division II National Championships in 1989, 1990, and 1992. Head coach Sandra Rushing is 1-1 in her career at the Elite Eight, defeating California (Pa.) 75-64 in 2008, before losing 58-68 to South Dakota.
YEAR - RECORD
1986: 1-1
1987: 0-1
1988: 1-1
1989: 3-0/National Champions
1990: 3-0/National Champions
1992: 3-0/National Champions
1993: 2-1
1996: 1-2
1997: 0-1
2000: 0-1
2001: 0-1
2008: 1-1
2009: ?-? 

DELTA STATE ALL-TIME LEADER IN WINS IN DIVISION II
One look at the many banners hanging inside Walter Sillers Coliseum, and anyone can figure out that Delta State University women's basketball has developed into one of the nation's elite programs over the years. In fact, since the program's inception, the Lady Statesmen boast more victories than any other program in the history of NCAA Division II basketball with 950. Over the years, the Lady Statesmen have accumulated a 950-236-3 record with six national championships, and 15 Gulf South Conference titles. No other program in NCAA DII history is a member of the 900 victory club. Bentley College is the closest with 822 wins followed by California Polytechnic Institute -Pomona (790), Arkansas Tech University (788), and Central Missouri State (770).

LADY STATESMEN VERSUS THE FIELD
The Lady Statesmen are entering uncharted waters, as far as the teams they will be facing in San Antonio at the NCAA Elite Eight. Delta State's women's basketball program has never faced four of the seven teams at the tournament, including their National Quarterfinal opponent West Texas A&M.
Against the other three schools, the Lady Statesmen have a 4-0 record, including a 2008 Elite Eight tournament victory over California (Pa.). The Lady Statesmen are 2-0 against Clayton State in the past two seasons, and have beaten Michigan Tech in the two schools' only meeting. 

ELITE EIGHT OPPONENT - ALL-TIME RECORD
West Texas A&M: 0-0
California (Pa.): 1-0
Franklin Pierce: 0-0
Alaska-Anchorage: 0-0
Clayton State: 2-0
Michigan Tech: 1-0
Minnesota St.-Mankato: 0-0

DSU AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Lady Statesmen are 1-1 this season against ranked opponents. Delta State dropped a 52-62 decision to then-No. 6 South Carolina-Aiken at the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic. Delta State throttled then-No. 16 Arkansas Tech, 59-33, on Jan. 24.

NCAA TOURNAMENT MVPS/SELECTIONS
Delta State has produced more NCAA All-Tournament selections than any other school in Gulf South Conference history. Delta State has produced 15 NCAA All-Tournament selections and four MVPs. 

YEAR - ALL-TOURNAMENT/MVP
1989: Pam Locket (MVP)* and Jo Lynn Davis
1990: Crystal Hardy (MVP)* and Pam Lockett
1992: Leslie McKeirnon (MVP)*, LaTanya Patty, and Marieia Wright
1993: LaTanya Patty
2000: Nicole Trotter-Francis and Caroline Boclair
2001: Caroline Boclair
2006: Jennifer Rushing
2007: Jennifer Rushing/Brittani Calhoun
2008: Jennifer Rushing (SR MVP)
2009: Veronica Walker (SR MVP) and Bug Cooper 
(*National MVP)

RUSHING CLAIMS FOURTH-STRAIGHT GSC WEST COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Lady Statesmen head coach Sandra Rushing can say that she has accomplished a feat no other coach in GSC history has done - won four-straight GSC Coach of the Year honors. Rushing has guided the Lady Statesmen to a 23-6 record, after starting the year 1-4, and a fourth-straight GSC West Division title. Over the last four seasons, the green-and-white are 120-14 (.900) with four-straight league championships, four-straight NCAA “Sweet 16” appearances, and back-to-back NCAA South Region championships in 2008 and 2009. Last season, the Lady Statesmen advanced all the way to the Final Four.

WALKER NAMED GSC WEST DIVISION FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Veronica Walker, a ferocious power forward for DSU this season, has been named the GSC West Division Freshman of the Year after leading the conference with a 66.8-percent field goal percentage. The powerful post player averages a team-high 11.4 points per game, and grabs 5.4 rebounds per contest. She has also sent a team-high and GSC third-best 50 opponents shots into the stands. She is also the third freshman to claim the honor under Rushing, joining Emily Mabus (2002-03), and Jennifer Rushing (2004-05).

BELL SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR THREES; RANKS NO. 1 IN 3-PT FG%
Sophomore guard Moe Bell has turned the Lady Statesmen record book into her own diary this season, cracking the all-time top-5 in three-pointers made and attempted, and establishing a new record for three-pointers made in a season with 97. The former Madison-Ridgeland Academy standout has connected on 97-of-202 three-point attempts this year, breaking the mark held by former Lady Statesmen Shorlone Crockam 70, 1992-93). Her 133 career threes rank fifth, while her 289 attempts are eighth in school history. Bell's 48.0 3-pt FG% also ranks among the leaders in NCAA Division II heading into this week's Elite Eight in San Antonio.

SENIOR CLASS GRABS FOUR-PEAT
Renita Jones, Kirsten McBride, LaMaesha McAdory, and Courtney Wilson all have one thing in common - they're winners. This senior class has simply been phenomenal on the court, claiming four-straight GSC championships, and a mind-blowing 120-14 (.895) record. The class has made four-straight trips to NCAA Tournament play, two-straight Elite Eight appearances, and this week, they have their sights set on returning the title to Cleveland for the first time since 1992. This senior class also boasts a cumulative 3.1 GPA and all four will graduate in May.

WHEN INSIDE SCORE...
Delta State opponents this season have had a difficult time stopping the green-and-white in the paint. So much so, DSU has outscored opponents 1,029-702 in the paint through 35 games this year. In fact, the Lady Statesmen are averaging 29.2 ppg in the paint. 

LADY STATESMEN “D” KEY TO VICTORIES
There's no denying the formula coach Sandra Rushing has used over the last three-plus seasons with the Lady Statesmen. Through 35 games, the Lady Statesmen rank first in the GSC and rank sixth in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 51.8 points per game. DSU is also in the top-15 nationally, ranking No. 17, with a 35.5 field goal percentage defense.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Lady Statesmen are among the leaders in the GSC in double-double performances this season. DSU has posted an impressive 17 double-doubles this year through 35 games. Senior LaMaesha McAdory leads the way with eight, sophomore Bug Cooper and freshman Veronica Walker have three, while senior Courtney Wilson has two. The Lady Statesmen have narrowly missed another 18 double-doubles by either a single rebound or assist.

LEGENDS COACH HERE
Very few coaches have had the impact on their respective universities like Margaret Wade and Lloyd Clark. The two coaches combined to win 651 games and six National Championships while prowling the sidelines at Delta State. Wade is often referred to as “the Mother of modern women's college basketball,” while Clark's teams were widely known for their defensive prowess and athleticism.
Wade coached the Lady Statesmen to three straight AIAW National Championships, and players under her direction remain on top of the DSU record books. Coach Wade had such an impact, that in 1978, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association named their Player of the Year award after coach Margaret Wade, The Wade Trophy. 

Coach Wade had an unheard of record of 109-6 during her first four years at the helm of DSU Women's Basketball. In 1986, Wade became the first woman to be inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. 

During his 19 years as head coach, Lloyd Clark became one of the greatest coaches in women's basketball history. Clark compiled an amazing 494-98 record from 1983-2002. His teams won three NCAA DII National Championships, including back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. 

Clark's teams reached the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 19 seasons, and advanced to the Elite Eight 11 times. Clark was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the year five times. In 2006, Clark was inducted into the MS Sports Hall of Fame.

WE'RE NOT THE FIGHTING OKRA
Despite some rowdy student objections, athletic programs at Delta State University do not use the student-chosen sub-mascot, Fighting Okra. The Fighting Okra, the most vicious of all vegetables, was created by a band of students at DSU in the late 1980's and early 1990's. While some on campus embrace the scary veggie, DSU Athletics does not. Our programs have always been, and will continue to be the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the vegetable in the corner with boxing gloves. He understands...