CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Montevallo women's basketball team dropped a close road contest on Saturday afternoon, falling to Delta State, 57-49, inside of Walter Sillers Coliseum.

Julia Susla led the way for the Falcons, nearly notching a double-double with 12 points and nine boards. Carlyn Burdette reached double figures for the second straight game with ten points.

Delta State opened the game strong, scoring the first ten points of the game, before London Robinson scored UM's first field goal on a turnaround jumper at 3:37. After a DSU triple, Montevallo closed the opening quarter with back-to-back three pointers from Kylee Norman and Julia Susla to cut the deficit to, 13-8, at the end of the first.

Montevallo opened the second quarter with an and-one from Shalexia Little and a lay-in from Elyse Hughes to tie the game, 13-13, at the 7:04 mark. Norman added a free throw and Hughes cashed in on another lay-in, but the Statesmen outscored the Falcons 13-3 to take a double-digit lead, 26-16, with 2:11 left in the second quarter. Carlyn Burdette closed the half with back-to-back baskets including a three-pointer at buzzer, as DSU held a, 28-21, advantage at the break.

DSU opened the second half with back-to-back baskets, before Robinson scored on a driving lay-in at 7:56. The Lady Statesmen added a lay-in to jump back ahead by double digits, 36-25, at the 6:53 mark. Montevallo responded, outscoring DSU 11-1 through the next three minutes, as back-to-back lay-ins from Burdette and Susla cut the deficit to, 37-33, at the 4:24 mark. Jerrilyn Richardson hit a triple and Julia Susla cashed in on an and-one, as the Falcons made it a one possession game, 43-41, with 1:56 left in the third. The Lady Statesmen cashed in on a driving lay-in in the final seconds to take a, 45-41, lead into the final quarter.

The Lady Statesmen scored the first three points of the fourth, before Burdette cashed in on a pair of free throws at 7:28. Both teams struggled offensively through the next few minutes, combining for one made field goal, as DSU held on to a, 50-43, lead at the final media timeout (4:44). Shalexia Little scored the first Falcons field goal of the fourth, as she hit a triple at 4:09. The Lady Statesmen responded with a jumper, but a three-pointer from Owens made it a one possession game, 52-49, with 3:18 left in the contest. The Falcons failed to score in the final three minutes, as DSU held on to take the, 57-49, victory.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Montevallo 49 | Delta State 57

Records: Montevallo 3-17 (2-13 GSC) | Delta State 11-8 (9-5 GSC)

Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.

GAME NOTES

• Montevallo shot 30.8-percent from the floor, while Delta State shot 37.5-percent from the floor.
• A pair of Falcons reached double figures in Julia Susla (12) and Carlyn Burdette (ten).
• Susla nearly notched a double-double with nine rebounds.
• The Lady Statesmen outrebounded the Falcons 40-33.

UP NEXT: Montevallo returns home next week with games against Union (Feb. 5) and Christian Brothers (Feb. 7).