Delta State Holds Off Late UWA Surge for 60-57 GSC Win

Box Score

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Delta State withstood a late West Alabama rally to hang on for a 60-57 women's Gulf South Conference basketball win Thursday at Pruitt Hall.

Delta State kept its GSC Tournament hopes afloat with the victory, improving to 13-13 overall, 10-11 in the conference. West Alabama is 7-21 and 4-17.

"We played hard and the effort was there," UWA coach Rusty Cram said. "We just seem to find a way to shoot ourselves in the foot. Tonight it was three mental mistakes as we came down the wire."

Trailing by 13 points midway through the third quarter, West Alabama tied the game at 54-54 with 1:55 left to play when Ariel Wilson converted an old-fashioned three-point play. DSU's Aspriona Gilbert answered eight seconds later after with her own three-point play to make it 57-54 Lady Statesmen.

Delta State stretched the lead to 59-54 with 17 seconds on a pair of free throws by Alondrea Rush, but Wilson made a layup and was fouled with 12.9 seconds left. She made the free throw to cut the Lady Statesmen lead to 59-57.

Carly Keller made one of two free throws for DSU with 11.7 seconds left and West Alabama turned the ball over twice in its last three possessions for the final margin.

"Turnovers have been our nemesis all season long," Cram said. "You can't give people extra chances in this league.

Delta State scored 19 points off 18 West Alabama turnovers, while UWA outrebounded the Lady Statesmen 35-28.

Wilson scored 18 points and Sydney King 14 to lead West Alabama. King had eight rebounds.

Kaelin Kneeland led Delta State scoring with 15 points. Ieysha Mays chipped in 12 and Anissa Jackson 10. Mays had eight rebounds.

West Alabama winds up its 2016-17 season by hosting Mississippi College Saturday at 2 p.m. Delta State travels to West Georgia on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Sydney King: F; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#22 Ariel Wilson: G; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Sydney King
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#22 Ariel Wilson
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#2 Sydney King

#22 Ariel Wilson

Players Mentioned

#2 Sydney King

#22 Ariel Wilson