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January 7, 2001
Lady Tigers Drop Game to Nationally Ranked DSU
by Mac Sisson
CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI-Delta State University All America player Caroline Boclair led the charge as the nationally ranked Lady Statesmen finally wore down the visiting Ouachita Baptist University Lady Tigers, 69-61, Saturday night at DSU's Walter Sillers Coliseum in Cleveland, Mississippi. The win by undefeated DSU (13-0, 1-0) kicked off the 2000-2001 Gulf South Conference schedule for both teams.
Boclair scored 21 points and snared 11 rebounds. She ended the night hitting seven of 20 from the field, one of three from the arc, and six of seven from the line, in addition to two assists and two steals.
Boclair's heroics were answered by a scrapping band of Lady Tigers (7-3, 0-1) who at one point in the first half held an 18-point lead over the NCAA Division II's second ranked team. Ouachita coach Garry Crowder's team was ahead at halftime, 33-26, and hitting 50 percent (13 of 26) of their attempts from the field. The Lady Statesmen, GSC defending champions, had a horrific first half hitting only 31 percent (10 of 32) of their field goal attempts.
The tale of the second half was much different than the first. Delta State finally tied in up midway in the half and took the lead which they never gave back. On their way to the victory, the Lady Statesmen warmed up and shot 54 percent in the second stanza, while OBU felt the defensive pressure and wilted to a 37 shooting percentage (10 of 27) from the field.
The Lady Tigers had four players in double figures, led by reserve point guard Vivi Dees with 15 points. Off the bench, Dees hit three of six from the arc and was two of two from the line. Leading scorer Crystal Allen was held to 12 points, seven points off her average. She was the team's leading rebounder with seven. Freshman forward Stephanie Grimes scored 11 points, while starting junior guard Robyn Anders had 10.
Behind Boclair in scoring for DSU was Katrina King with 18 points and Megan Teel with 10. Teel led both team in assists with eight.
The Lady Tigers won the rebounding war, 34-32, but a very physical DSU team forced Ouachita into 22 turnovers, while DSU netted 13.
As a team, the Lady Tigers shot 43 percent from the field (23 of 53), while the Lady Statesmen went 23 of 56 for 41 percent. From the three point distance, OBU hit five of 14 for 36 percent, and DSU connect on seven of 16 for 44 percent. At the line, the Lady Tigers went 10 of 13 for 77 percent, while Delta was 16 of 27 for 59 percent.
Crowder and his team will attempt to get back on the winning track after two straight losses when they entertain the Lane College Lady Dragons from Jackson, Tennessee in non-conference action at 7 p.m. Monday at OBU's Bill Vining Arena in the Roy and Christine Sturgis Physical Education Center.
On Thursday, the Lady Tigers entertain the Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns in a Gulf South Conference game tipping off at 6 p.m. at Vining Arena.
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