Evans paces UWA past Delta State
By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
Dec. 30, 2002
COLUMBUS The Christmas break did wonders for Tausha Evans' basketball game.
With an added spring in her step and a re-focused attitude, Evans lit a fire under the University of West Alabama Lady Tigers here Sunday afternoon in the final day of the Mississippi University for Women's New Year's Classic at New Hope High School.
Evans tossed in a game-high 28 points to lead West Alabama to its first-ever win over perennial national power and three-time defending Gulf South Conference champion Delta State, 63-56.
West Alabama, who won the GSC's Eastern Division title last year and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Tournament, improves to 5-4. For 17th ranked Delta State, it was the Lady Statesmen's first loss under new head coach Sandra Rushing.
For Evans, a week-long Christmas break paid off. The sophomore guard from Neshoba Central High School had struggled earlier this season but rebounded with a strong showing this weekend at the MUW Classic.
Before Sunday's historic victory, the Lady Tigers had posted an 0-for-27 record against Delta State.
Delta State won both meetings last season including a blowout win at MUW Classic. They then won again at the GSC Tournament in Tupelo. The two teams would've met for a third time at the NCAA South Regionals in Cleveland, but the Lady Tigers lost a heartbreaker to eventual regional champion Central Arkansas in overtime.
On Sunday, the Lady Tigers were in charge for nearly the whole game. Delta State held the lead just three times, with none over a point. The last came at 13-12 following a basket by Robin Chastain.
Tied at 13, Evans broke it with a three-pointer and the Lady Tigers would not trail again. But it stayed close.
Two baskets by UWA's Becky Stone gave the Lady Tigers a pair of 7-point leads, the largest by either teams, early in the second half. Delta State would creep back to within a point on three occassions, the last coming at 55-54 after Amber Gean hit a clutch three-pointer.
UWA would miss a shot giving DSU a chance for the lead, but a contact play resulted in no foul called. UWA regained possession with 1:19 to play.
Margo Porter was fouled and went to the line for a one-and-one. She made both for a 57-54 lead with 54.3 seconds left.
DSU worked the offense for a tying three-pointer but good defense by the Lady Tigers forced Teri Crudup to take a 16-foot shot with just two seconds left on the shot clock. The shot missed and UWA rebounded.
Veronica Lee made both foul shots with 15.3 seconds left to up the Lady Tiger lead to 59-54.
Evans then capped off the game by stripping Janna Lyons at midcourt and darted in for an uncontested layup and a 7-point lead at 61-54.
UWA shot an even 40 percent from the field but was better at the line going 18-of-24. DSU, meanwhile, also had 20 field goals but was just 12-of-22 from the line.
Evans, who was 8-of-18 from the field but 10-of-11 from the line, was the only Lady Tiger in double figures. Nikki Jones chipped in nine.
Gean led Delta State with 18 points and Emily Mabus had 12.
