Women's Basketball | 1/2/2012 4:52:00 PM
December 31, 2011-Freshman Merissa Quick scored a career high 27 points with ten rebounds as the #23 Emporia State Lady Hornets defeated Southwest Baptist 70-67 in double overtime on New Year’s Eve in Bolivar, Mo.
The Lady Hornets used a 7-2 run to go into the half trailing the Bearcats 26-23 after shooting just .292 in the opening frame. ESU used an 11-0 run early in the second half to take a 36-31 lead with 13:45 left in the game. The Lady Hornets took a 57-55 lead on Quick’s layup with 1:07 left in regulation. Jacqui Zelenka tied it for the Bearcats on a jumper in the lane with 36.6 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Kelsey Balcom and Quick gave ESU a 61-57 lead to open the overtime but Zelenka would score four points for SBU in the final 1:33 including two free throws with 32.5 left to go to a second overtime.
Rachel Hanf began the second overtime with a pair of free throws and Zelenka tied it with a bucket at the 4:25 mark. Quick then scored on back to back possessions to give ESU a 67-63 lead with 3:20 remaining. Chasity Price hit a three pointer to pull the Bearcats to within 67-66 with 2:27 left. Quick answered again with 1:32 left on another lay-up to give ESU a 69-66 lead. Ashlee Pitts hit one of two free throws with 1:05 left. Quick hit one of two free throws with 6.6 remaining for the final margin.
Quick’s 27 points and ten rebounds marked her second straight double-double. Balcom added 15 points and nine rebounds for ESU while Heather Robben added seven points and six assists.
The Lady Hornets are back in action on January 4 when they travel to Missouri Southern. Tip-off from the Leggett and Platt Center is set for 5:30 p.m.
