CLEVELAND, Miss. | Delta State defended its home court Thursday night, defeating the visiting University of Alabama in Huntsville women's basketball team 59-45 in conference action. The Chargers drop to 10-14 (7-11 Gulf South Conference) with the setback, while DSU improves to 14-8 (12-6 GSC).
 
Juanice Newton was the lone Charger to score in double figures as she had nine points in the first half on her way to 11 in the game as the senior was 4-for-6 from the floor while also adding a pair of free throws.
 
Both Dina Saunders and Chandler Elder paced the team on the glass as each grabbed six rebounds.
 
Leading the way for Delta State was Chelsey Rhodes who scored 23, while Rhandi Ball tallied 11 while also picking up seven steals.
 
After the Chargers held an early 5-4 lead, the host Lady Statesmen would shoot 50 percent in the opening 20 minutes to build up as much as a 12-point advantage in the first half en route to holding a 30-21 lead at the halftime break after holding UAH to a first-half shooting mark of just 38.1 percent.
 
An old-fashioned 3-point play near the midway point of the second half from Chandler Elder pulled the Chargers within four at 43-39, but Delta State outscored the visitors 16-6 in the final 11 minutes of the contest to seal the victory.
 
Delta State finished the night shooting 43 percent from the floor, while the Chargers shot 37 percent in the contest. Behind the strong showings from Saunders and Elder, the visitors won the battle on the glass by a 32-30 margin.
 
UAH's bench was strong in the contest, outscoring Delta's reserves 20-4.
 
UAH returns to action on Saturday when the Chargers travel to Mississippi College for a 2 p.m. contest. In the earlier contest this season, UAH was a 78-60 winner over the Choctaws in the Rocket City.