Delta State Women Aim for GSC Championship After Semifinal Win

The Delta State University women’s basketball team is headed to the Gulf South Conference championship game after a semifinal victory Monday night. The Lady Statesmen defeated Valdosta State 61-44 at Walter Sillers Coliseum.

Delta State will face No. 2 seed Union University on Thursday at Fred DeLay Gymnasium in Jackson, Tenn. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. (CT). The contest marks the second meeting between the teams this season, with Delta State winning the regular-season series 2-0.

Delta State is making its first appearance in the conference semifinals since the 2021-22 season. The Lady Statesmen, seeded third, upset the sixth seed Valdosta State in the quarterfinals. Senior forward Dakiya Toney led the team with 12 points and six rebounds. She also contributed defensively with a blocked shot and two steals.

Two Delta State players received postseason awards. Toney earned Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, while sophomore guard Jariyah Williamson was named GSC Newcomer of the Year. Williamson averaged 11.8 points per game during the regular season and posted a double-double against Valdosta State with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Senior guard Kennedee Shelton added 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting in the semifinals. The Lady Statesmen now turn their focus to the conference final against Union, the defending GSC champions, who defeated West Florida 69-61 in their semifinal. Union was led by Olivia Lee with 18 points and seven rebounds. Kaitlyn Yoder contributed 12 points, and Courtney Zensen added 10, including three three-pointers.

The Lady Bulldogs shot 40% from the field and 60% in the fourth quarter. They also made 75% of their free throws and 26% of their three-point attempts. Union boasts two All-Conference players, Lee and Zensen, who led the team in three-point shooting this season.

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