Women's Basketball | 12/16/2012 2:28:00 AM
BACK TO THE CANYON
The Lady Hornets travel to Canyon, Texas for the Lady Buff Christmas Classic. Emporia State will open against West Texas A&M and finish against Abilene Christian. It is the first trip to Canyon for Emporia State since winning the 2010 Regional.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 46-21 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 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 WTAMU.
Krista Gerlich is 151-48 in her seventh year as the coach at West Texas A&M. She is 1-1 against ESU.
SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 3-3 on the year and 0-2 in the MIAA. They opened MIAA play falling in two road games and have played four of their first six games on the road. Three Lady Hornets are averaging in double figures but are averaging just 66.0 points per game as a team.
LAST TIME OUT
The #21 Emporia State Lady Hornets dropped to 0-2 in the MIAA for the first time in school history following an 84-63 loss at #23 Central Missouri. Three Lady Hornets scored in double figures led by Merissa Quick's 19 points but could not overcome a career high 42 points from the Jennies Shelby Winkelmann.
SCOUTING THE LADY BUFFS
West Texas A&M is an uncharacteristic 3-7 on the season with all three wins coming in the First United Bank Center. They opened the season with three losses to teams currently ranked in the top 12 nationally. Three Lady Buffs are averaging in double figures, but as a team are averaging just 63.4 points per game.
THE SERIES
This is the 13th meeting between Emporia State and West Texas with each team winning six times. Emporia State has won five of the last seven meetings. Half of the all-time meetings have come in the NCAA Tournament with each team winning three games.
LAST TIME VS. WEST TEXAS
Cassondra Boston had 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as #15 Emporia State knocked #9 West Texas A&M out of the NCAA Tournament with a 76-69 victory in Canyon, Texas. Boston scored the final five points of the half on a lay up and three free throws to give the Lady Hornets a 35-27 lead at the break. She would deliver the knock out blow with a step back three pointer with 1:29 remaining to give the Lady Hornets a six point lead and ESU would hit their final eight free throws to seal the win. Alli Volkens had 19 points on eight of ten shooting from the field with five rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets take on Abilene Christian on Tuesday. ESU will play host to Central Christian on Nov. 30 in White Auditorium.
