RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Veronica Walker notched her 13th double-double of the season to lead the No. 8 Delta State Lady Statesmen to a 69-55 win over the Lynn Knights in the opening round of the NCAA South Region Tournament on Friday.

At Tucker Coliseum in Russellville, Ark., Walker (Indianola, Miss./Gentry HS) scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Delta State (26-3), the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advanced Sunday's semifinal, where the Lady Statesmen will meet Valdosta State.

Walker shot 9-of-21 from the field as she led three Lady Statesmen players scoring in double-figures. She was 5-of-6 in the second half and pulled down eight rebounds on each end of the floor.

Shameka Russell (Waynesboro, Miss./Southeastern Louisiana) came off the bench to score 17 points and pull in eight rebounds for the Lady Statesmen.

Freshman guard Joncyee Sanders (Brandon, Miss./Brandon HS) made the most of her first collegiate start, scoring a career-high 14 points and grabbing six rebounds and handing out four assists.

Chelsea Patterson scored 18 points to lead Lynn (19-11), which earned its way to the regional by winning the Sunshine State Conference tournament.

The Lady Statesmen seized commanding control with a 15-0 run between the 17:05 and 12:47 marks of the second half to put DSU ahead 51-32. Walker converted a fast-break layup off an assist from Sanders to cap the run.

DSU effectively put the game away with an 11-2 run between the 9:51 and 4:51 marks of the second half. Russell's jumper from the baseline with 5:30 remaining gave the Lady Statesmen a 65-41 lead, their largest lead of the contest.

Lynn had no answer for the Lady Statesmen in the second half as Delta State shot 54 percent (15-of-28) from the field after halftime. For the game, DSU shot 41 percent (28-of-28), while holding Lynn to 39 percent shooting (22-of-56).

Though the Lady Statesmen were in control most the way, it was the Knights who struck first, jumping to an early 5-0 lead a minute and half into the game. The Lady Statesmen struggled in the early going. Delta State came up empty on their first six possessions, missing four shots and committing two turnovers.

After shaking off the early jitters, the Lady Statesmen began heating up midway through the period, using a 10-0 run between the 12:56 and 9:10 marks to claim an 18-15 lead. Cooper's jumper in the paint with 11:08 remaining gave Green-and-White its first lead of the game at 16-15.

The Lady Statesmen continued to impose their will as halftime approached as they outscored Lynn 12-2 over the last 7:50 of the first half to take a 32-23 into the locker room.

Walker struggled to put the ball in the hoop the first half (4-of-15 shooting), but still managed to reach her double-double prior to the midgame break. By halftime, she 10 points and 12 rebounds, including seven caroms off the offensive glass.

Russell scored seven points off the bench in the first half while Cooper and Sanders each scored six points during the first 20 minutes.

Bug Cooper (Indianola, Miss./Gentry HS) scored eight points and handed out six assists in addition to pulling down six rebounds for the Lady Statesmen. She also registered a game-high four steals.

Denesha Henderson (Guy, Ark./Guy-Perkins HS) scored six points and hauled down six rebounds for Delta State.

The Lady Statesmen return to action Sunday when they face Valdosta State, which survived a comeback attempt by Fort Valley State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network.

Matt Jones and Alan Wiederhold will have the call starting at 12:45 p.m. with the “SouthGroup Insurance Locker Room Report.”