SHC Women Lose Battle at Delta State

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- An 8-0 run to start the second quarter proved to be the distance Delta State University needed Tuesday, Nov. 27, as Spring Hill College lost the defensive battle, 59-54.

Tiffany Valentine was held to a season-low 14 points, but two of those came on a jumper to break an 8-8 tie and give Spring Hill its first lead of the night midway through the first quarter. Ava Varner followed with a layup to make it 12-8 Badgers. However, the Statesmen responded to lead 14-12 at the end of the quarter and then opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run to stretch its lead to 22-12 en route to a 29-16 halftime lead.

In the second half, Delta State grew its lead as high as 15 points, but an Esther Stokely 3-pointer and Carrington Mathias layup cut it to five points, 54-49, with 1:49 to play. The Badgers scored only twice on its final five possessions, including a 3-pointer by Daja Walker with two seconds to play. DSU was 3-of-4 from the free throw in the final 10 seconds to hold off Spring Hill's rally.

Scoring all of their points in the second half, Walker (11 points) and Stokley (nine points) each scored a season-high and combined for 20 of Spring Hill's 38 second-half points. Varner also had a season-high outing with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Valentine, Walker and Elise Reilly each had seven rebounds. 

Kirstin Brown led Delta State with 16 points, followed by Emesha Chatman's 12 points and a double-double 12 points and 11 rebounds from Frederica Haywood, who scored 10 in the first half.

Both teams were held below 38 percent shooting in the game, and the Badgers' defense did not allow a 3-point basket. On the glass, both teams secured 19 defensive rebounds, but the edge came on the offensive side with Delta State grabbing 18 offensive rebounds to Spring Hill's 12. As a result, DSU scored 13 second chance points.

Delta State (3-2) now carries a three-game win streak into its Gulf South Conference opener Thursday, Nov. 29 against West Alabama

The loss drops Spring Hill to 3-4 overall and 1-3 on the season against Gulf South Conference and South Region foes. The Badgers will have a 10 day break before its next game, Dec. 8 against the University of Mobile. The Mobile game, originally scheduled as an away game, will be played at Spring Hill's Outlaw Recreation Center with the Rams serving as the home team.