The Delta State University women’s basketball team will host Valdosta State in the Gulf South Conference Championship quarterfinals Monday evening. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. Central Time at Lloyd Clark Court in Walter Sillers Coliseum on Delta State’s campus, according to the university.
The winner advances to the semifinals against either No. 7 seed West Florida or No. 2 seed Union University. The semifinal matchups are scheduled for Thursday, with times to be determined, the school said.
Delta State enters the postseason as the No. 3 seed with a 17-10 overall record and a 15-7 mark in conference play. The Lady Statesmen have won nine of their last 11 games and recently beat Mississippi College 56-45 to clinch their seed.
The team is known for its strong defense, allowing an average of 60.6 points per game, third-best in the Gulf South Conference. They also rank in the top three in three-point shooting at 31.8%. Leading scorer Jariyah Williamson, a sophomore from Henderson, Tennessee, averages 11.8 points per game, with a notable 15.6 points per game in February. She scored 21 points in the team’s recent win over Mississippi College.
Senior forward Dakiya Toney from Lake Village, Arkansas, is a key contributor in the frontcourt. She leads the team in rebounds, averaging 6.7 per game, and has 19 blocked shots this season. Toney recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the last matchup against Valdosta State on Feb. 12, helping Delta State secure a 63-49 victory.
Valdosta State enters as the No. 6 seed with a 16-12 overall record and a 13-9 conference mark. The Blazers won their last game against Montevallo, 72-54. They finished tied with West Florida but advanced in the bracket after a coin flip, the school said.
The Blazers rank in the top five in the conference in field goal percentage at 43.6% and score an average of 69.6 points per game, while allowing 64.4 points. Aryana Hicks leads the conference in assists with 5.1 per game, and Erin Whalen is the team’s top scorer at 13.9 points per game. Whalen also averages 2.4 steals, tying for the conference lead with 66 steals this season.
The game will be broadcast by the Statesmen Sports Radio Network, with Braden Treaster providing play-by-play commentary on Rejoice 1490 WCLD AM and FloCollege Network, the university added.
