CLEVELAND, Miss. – Delta State University scored 53 second-half points in route to an 80-56 win over the University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team in the NCAA South Regional Tournament Semi-Finals.

 

The loss gives No. 5 UAM a final 21-9 overall record, while No. 1 Delta State improves to 28-6 and will face No. 7 Ouachita Baptist in the regional championship game on Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m.

 

The game marked the fourth time UAM and DSU have met this season, all games resulting in favor of the Lady Statesmen.

 

In the first half, UAM fought back from a deficit of as much as nine points to tie the game at 25-all 35 seconds before halftime. DSU’s LaMaesha McAdory sunk a lay-up on the other end to give the Lady Statesmen a 27-25 lead at the break.

 

In the second half, DSU outscored UAM 53-31 and recorded 27 of those points from the charity stripe. UAM only recorded 13 points from the foul line in the final period.

 

DSU won the rebounding battle with ease by a final margin of 40-26. The Lady Statesmen recorded 12 offensive rebounds to UAM’s five.

 

Senior Andrea Dubose and junior Monica Perkins-Miller both reached double-digits for the Blossoms with 11 points each, while the Lady Statesmen were led by five players in double-digits.

 

Bug Cooper led all scorers with 15 points, followed by Courtney Wilson with 14, LaMaesha McAdory with 13, Veronica Walker with 12 and Tamara Reed with 11.

 

DSU took the first lead of the ball game and never trailed. The Lady Statesmen grew their lead to as much as 26 points with just over one minute remaining in regulation.