Bell Leads Nation With Shooting Percentage
Moe Bell
Moe Bell
Pictured on the top of the front page of Monday’s Clarion Ledger were two Delta State Lady Statesmen Basketball standouts—Moe Bell, a former outstanding player at Madison-Ridgeland Academy, and Bug Cooper, another great player, who had played for Indianola Gentry.
These two DSU Sophomores are vital players in DSU’s bid for the NCAA Division II Final Four. The Lady Statesmen (29-6) are ranked No. 24 in the country. Tuesday night they played West Texas A&M, in a bid for their second consecutive Elite Eight win and a trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
“Growing up you dream about winning a national championship and hitting the game winning shot,” Bell stated. “For it actually to be right at our fingertips, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Bell was a knock-down shooter at Madison-Ridgeland Academy. At 5’10”, she was named 2007 MPSA Player of the Year after MRA won an Overall championship.
DSU Coach Sandra Rushing made a simple pitch to this duo—if you’re serious about wining on a national level, DSU is the place to be and that’s exactly where they are.
Rushing states that Bell is one of the best shooters she has ever seen, leads the nation with a 48.5 3-point percentage and set the single-season DSU record with 97. She is already No. 5 in DSU history with 133 3-pointers made.
“The stats are great but what really matters are wins,” stated Bell. The roundballer seems almost shy when asked about personal highlights, but the words seem to flow when conversation turns to consecutive Elite Eights and the possibility of more. If the Lady Statesmen can finish off this run, it’ll be the school’s seventh national championship and the first since 1991-92.
Bell is the daughter of Martha and Jeff Bell of Madison. Her grandparents are W. R. and Barbara Newman, Larry and Rachel Bell, and Bill Hobdy, all of Water Valley.
