Women's Basketball | 12/15/2011 4:13:00 PM
December 6, 2011-The Emporia State Lady Hornets shot .500 from the field and a blistering .667 from behind the three-point line in a 60-54 win over #13 Northeastern State on Tuesday night in Tahlequah, Okla. It is ESU’s third win over a top 25 team in the last two years and second straight on an opponent’s home court.
Rachel Hanf put ESU on the board first with a three pointer 44 seconds into the game. NSU responded with a 9-0 run to take what would be their biggest lead of the night at 9-3 with 17:00 left in the half. Back to back threes by Heather Robben tied it for ESU at 9-9 with 15:19 left in the half. The Riverhawks would go ahead 28-23 with 4:25 remaining before the Lady Hornets ended the half on a 15-2 run to go to the locker rooms ahead 38-30. Hanf hit two treys in the final minute as she ended the first half four of four from the field.
ESU extended the lead to nine at 40-31 on Merissa Quick’s lay-up with 17:54 left in the game. NSU responded with a 13-4 run to tie the game at 44-44 with 10:19 left in the game. Hanf then hit a three pointer to ignite an 11-0 run for the Lady Hornets as they took their biggest lead of the game at 55-44 with 5:31 left.
The Riverhawks would cut the lead to five at 59-54 with 54.7 seconds left on Cristy Nitz layup. ESU’s defense forced two misses by NSU in the final minute and Kelsey Balcom hit one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds left for the final margin.
Hanf led ESU with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. She was six of eight from the field including a perfect five of five from behind the three-point line. She was joined in double figures by Robben with 15 points and four assists. Quick had a game high ten rebounds and three blocks to go with nine points.
The Lady Hornets will return to White Auditorium on Saturday night to take on #22 Central Missouri. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
NOTES:
Hanf moved into tenth in career three-pointers at ESU with 105 made threes.
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