Women's Basketball | 11/17/2012 2:14:00 AM
IT'S TOURNEY TIME
The #19 Lady Hornets play the host CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves on the second night of the Al Kaly Shriners' Classic in Pueblo, Colo. Emporia State is 21-4 over it's last 25 regular season tournament appearances.
LAST TIME OUT
The #19 Emporia State Lady Hornets used a 13-0 run at the end of the first half to blow open a close game on their way to a 64-44 win over Western State at the CSU-Pueblo Al Kaly Classic in Pueblo, Colo. Laura Patrick had eight of her game high 20 points during the run. Patrick was joined in double figures by Rheanna Egli with 13 points. Sarah Wood and Merissa Quick each had eight points with Wood tying her career high with nine rebounds. Emporia State held Western State to just .280 shooting for the game and outrebounded the Mountaineers 38-30 on the afternoon.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 45-18 in his third year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets and has guided them to the MIAA Tournament Championship Game in each of his first two seasons. He is 6-3 in the month of March. He has six wins against Top 25 teams. This is his 12th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and ESU has advanced to the NCAA tournament in ten of those seasons. This is his first meeting with CSU-Pueblo.
Kip Drown is 138-79 in his eighth season at CSU-Pueblo and 369-280 in his 23rd year as a head coach. He was 3-2 against Emporia State while head coach at SBU from 1988-94.
SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 2-0 on the year and ranked #19 in the latest USA Today Sports/WBCA National Poll. The Lady Hornets return six letterwinners from last year's 23-9 squad that advanced to the Sweet 16 for the ninth time in school history. Laura Patrick and Merissa Quick have both scored 20 points in a game this season.
SCOUTING THE THUNDERWOLVES
Colorado State-Pueblo is 1-0 after their season opening 65-58 win over California Baptist on Friday night. Erica Hicks scored 15 points and Laurel Kearsley pulled down 17 rebounds with 11 points for CSU-P in the win. The Thunderwolves were 21-7 last season and advanced to the NCAA Central Region Tournament.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 2-1. Emporia State won the first two match-ups but lost the last meeting between the two at a neutral site in 1993-94.
LAST TIME VS. WESTERN STATE
Emporia State fell to then Southern Colorado 84-69 on Dec. 4, 1993 in tournament action in Abilene, Texas.
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets return to White Auditorium to take on Kansas Wesleyan on Nov. 26. Tip-off is set for the Monday night game is set for 7:00 p.m.
