ASU Lady Rams rally to stun Delta State in NCAA first round

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida  --  Freshman Artisha "Tip" Holston had 16 points and eight rebounds and sophomore Keidra Green added 15 points to lead the fifth-seeded Albany State Lady Rams to a 49-45 victory over the fourth-seeded Delta State Lady Statesmen in the first round of the NCAA South Region Tournament. With the win, ASU, now 22-6 overall, advances to the regional semifinals to face Nova Southeastern, the tournament's top seed.

Delta State finishes the year at 24-6.

The first half produced a defensive duel between the two highly-touted teams. Green scored Albany State's first eight points, and the two teams were tied at eight apiece at the 11:18 mark.

Albany State was never able to take the lead in the first half. Despite 5-13 firing from the free throw line and 30.4% shooting from the field, ASU only trailed 25-21 at intermission.

In the second half, the Lady Rams went scoreless for nearly seven minutes to open the period. Delta State took advantage, using an 8-0 run to take a 33-21 lead. The Lady Statesmen led most of the half by double figures until ASU made its run.

Trailing 38-27 at the 9:53 mark, Albany State was ignited by its full court pressure that produced a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 38-37 with 7:40 left to play. Jillian Anderson helped sparked the run with six points.

DSU's Seneca Walton hit a jumper to put her team up 40-37 at the 6:27 mark. The Lady Rams answered with baskets by Holston and Green to take their first lead of the game 41-40 with 5:21 left in regulation.

A pair of free throws by Holston provided ASU with a 43-40 advantage before the Lady Statesmen tied the score at 43 all with 4:06 remaining. Holston hit two more free throws and Mecca Frost added a pair of her own to give Albany State a 47-45 lead at the 2:16 mark. Anissa Jackson converted a basket for Delta State to make the score 47-45. After an empty possession by ASU, Delta State was unable to tie the score. Free throws by Frost and Ieshia Young accounted for the final score.

Anderson finished with eight points off the bench.

Albany State shot 14-44 (31.8%) from the field, 3-16 (18.8%) from three-point range, and 18-30 (60%) from the free throw line. The Lady Rams' 13-17 firing from the charity stripe in the second half helped fuel their comeback.

ASU also held Delta State center Seneca Walton in check. The Gulf South Conference and NCAA South Region Player of the Year was held to eight points, six below her average. Albany State forced DSU into 18 turnovers and 32.1% shooting from the field.

The Lady Rams will face tournament host Nova Southeastern on Saturday, March 15^th at 7:30 p.m. Nova eliminated Benedict 75-61 earlier in the day to advance.

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COURTESY ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION