CLEVELAND – A new style of play in a tough league has been an adjustment for former Vicksburg Missy Gator Shalonda Williams.

The junior guard is trying to find playing time on a Delta State University team that is currently 15-1 and ranked 18th in the nation in NCAA Division II.

&#8220It’s been a big adjustment because their style of play is different from what I played at Vicksburg and in junior college,” said Williams, who came to Delta State after two productive seasons at Holmes Community College in Goodman.

&#8220At Holmes, we played at a fast-pace, pretty much up-and-down. Here, they are very patient. They want to get the ball inside and then if it’s not there, to swing it back to the guards. I’m just trying to get an understanding on how to play more here,” she said.

Through 16 games, Williams is averaging 10 minutes, 3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. She got to play 13 minutes in Monday night’s 63-39 win over Southern Arkansas at DSU’s Walter Sillers Coliseum.

One of the draws to playing for the Lady Statesmen is the tradition. In the coliseum, banners from three AIAW and three NCAA Division II national championships hang from the rafters.

&#8220I like playing here. I like my teammates,” Williams said.

Fourth year coach Sandra Rushing, who replaced Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame coach and current Vicksburg resident Lloyd Clark, understands.

&#8220We’re a team with guards who are ahead of her and have at least a year or two of experience playing in our league (the Gulf South Conference),” Rushing said. &#8220She’s done a good job for us when she’s been in there. We use her as the back-up at the two guard behind Wyconda Thomas and sometimes at the point.

&#8220Shalonda is one of the nicest people you’d ever want to be around. But I would just like to see her become more aggressive on the court, both in practice and in games.”

Williams’ high school coach, Mike Coleman, who now coaches at Quitman High School in East Mississippi, can relate to Williams’ struggles.

&#8220I saw her play back in December and we talked,” Coleman said. &#8220She wonders why she can’t get into the lineup and I tried to explain that Delta State is loaded at the guard spots.

&#8220They’ve got Wyconda Thomas who played a lot her first two years before getting hurt (a season ending knee injury) and she’s back playing well this season.

&#8220I told her to look at this way. She’s on a very good team and her education is being paid for. Not too many people can say that.”

Coleman first spotted Williams’ ability as a junior high player.

&#8220As a freshman, I made her my point guard,” he said. &#8220She started again her sophomore year and then she blew out her knee in her junior season.”

Williams’ injury had another cost, however, she fell off the recruiting radar.

&#8220She just wasn’t getting much interest even though she came back to have a excellent senior season. We went 17-13 and she averaged between 12 and 14 points a game for us,” Coleman said.

Still, the three-time Vicksburg Post All-County player had limited options after graduation.

&#8220Fortunately, I had a connection with coach (Chanda) Rigby up at Holmes and that’s where Shalonda became a juco All-Star,” Coleman said.

The Lady Bulldogs went 16-10 in Williams’ freshman season which saw her average 9 points per game. She came back to have an even better season her sophomore year, averaging more than 10 a game and leading Holmes to a 19-5 record. She was named first-team All-State.

&#8220I really liked our style of play. We got up and down the court,” she said.

Again, though, the offers at the senior college level were slim and none.

&#8220A couple of Division threes showed some interest and then I was invited to come up here to Delta State. I liked the girls,” Williams added.

Williams had a couple of good games in mid-December, including a game-high 13 points in a 83-43 rout of Tougaloo College at Delta State. She then followed that up with a nine-point effort against Arkansas Baptist, five days later.

&#8220That was a fast-paced game,” Williams said of the showing against Tougaloo. &#8220Against the better teams, I’ve had to adjust.”