Women's Basketball | 1/13/2012 10:54:00 AM
THE TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The #18 Lady Hornets travel to Topeka to take on #17 Washburn in the 24th Top 25 match up between the two. At least one of the teams has been ranked in the top 25 in 34 of the last 37 meetings dating back to 1997. The two schools have combined to win 11 MIAA Regular season championships and are tied for first in the loss column this season.
LAST TIME OUT
Kelsey Balcom was eight of nine from the field for 19 points to lead the #18 Emporia State Lady Hornets to an 81-68 victory over Lincoln on Wednesday in White Auditorium. She was one of three Lady Hornets in double figures. ESU jumped out to a 12-2 lead to open the game and would lead by 14 with 2:14 left in the half. The Blue Tigers ended the half on a 9-3 run to go the locker rooms down just 38-30. The Lady Hornets would use a 9-2 run to take their biggest lead at 61-41 with 13:08 left in the game. Balcom was joined in double figures by Heather Robben with 17 points and Rachel Hanf with 12 points. Both Robben and Hanf had seven rebounds and six assists each.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 31-11 in his second year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets and is 4-3 vs. Top 25 teams. This is his 11th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and ESU has advanced to the NCAA tournament in eight of his ten previous seasons. He is 2-1 against Washburn.
Ron McHenry is 304-63 in his 12th year at WU and is 20-11 against ESU.
SCOUTING THE LADY BLUES
Washburn is 14-3 overall, 7-1 in the MIAA and #17 in the WBCA Top 25. They are led in scoring by Seton Hall transfer Ebonie Williams at 12.9 points per game after averaging 13.1 her last two years in the Big East. Boise State transfer Sierra Moeller is the leading rebounder for WU at 7.7 boards per game after missing last season with a knee injury.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the series 43-40, having won three of the last five meetings including the last two in Lee Arena. They are the last two MIAA teams to win national championships, with WU taking the 2005 title and ESU winning in 2010.
LAST TIME VS. WASBURN
The Lady Hornets held Washburn to .188 shooting in the second half on the way to a 61-52 victory for ESU in the semifinals. WU led 43-38 with 14:12 remaining when ESU went on a 14-0 run to take the lead for good. Rachel Hanf hit back to back three pointers to give ESU a ten point lead at 55-45 with 8:09 left in the game. WU pulled within 55-52 with 4:49 left, but that would be the last time the Lady Blues scored. Volkens led ESU with 18 points, ten rebounds and five blocks. Balcom had 16 points and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The #18 Lady Hornets end the first round of conference play against Ft. Hays State on January 18 in White Auditorium. Tip-off of the beginning of a three game home stand is set for 5:30 p.m.
