Delta State Holds Off Mocs With Free Throws To Win 54-49

Delta State went 6-6 from the free throw line in the final 45 seconds to preserve a 54-49 win over the 20th-ranked Moccasins Sunday in the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic at Jenkins Field House.

After Danielle Walsh sank a three-pointer to get the Moccasins as close as one point, 48-47 with 1:09 to go, Denesha Henderson made a pair of free throws and Rhandi Ball made all four of hers to offset a basket by Michaela Hawley with 12 seconds remaining to hand the Moccasins just their second loss in nine games.

With the win, the Lady Statesmen (4-3) avenged their 61-60 loss to the Moccasins at Delta State Nov. 13 that snapped DSU’s 64-game home winning streak.

In the first half, Alexis Hochstetler’s basket with 7:58 left put FSC ahead and the Moccasins led by as many as 10, 29-19, with 3:12 left in the half, but Brooke Rhodes scored the final two baskets of the half for Delta State to trim the Moccasins’ halftime advantage to 29-23.

After baskets by Veronica Walker and Ball gave Delta State brief leads, Henderson broke a 42-42 tie on a three-pointer with 6:51 remaining and the Moccasins were never able to re-gain the lead.

Hawley led the Moccasins with 22 points, marking the seventh time this season she’s scored over 20.  She had six rebounds to move up to 15th on the FSC career-rebounding list with 572 and produced five blocked shots.  Walsh was the only other Moccasin in double figures with 10 points and she delivered six assists.  She played the entire 40 minutes for the third straight game.

Megan Dzikas played for the first time since Nov. 19 and scored six points in 18 minutes.  She’d been sidelined with a foot injury.

Walker led Delta State 17 points and 10 rebounds.  Rhodes scored 12 and Ball delivered 11 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

In the first game of the Terrace Hotel Classic, Alabama-Huntsville won a turnover-filled game over Saint Leo, 86-59, on the strength of a 55-point second half.  Jasmine Hammond led four Charger players in double figures with 20 points.  Chelsea Williams topped Saint Leo with 12 points.  The two teams combined for 58 turnovers in the game, 34 for the Lions and 24 for the Chargers.

The Terrace Hotel Classic concludes Monday at Jenkins Field House with Delta State playing Saint Leo at 1 p.m. and the Moccasins playing Alabama-Huntsville at 5 p.m.