Women's Basketball | 12/4/2012 11:39:00 AM
MIAA TIME
The #20 Lady Hornets open their 22nd season of MIAA play at MIAA newcomer Northeastern State. Emporia State is 18-3 all-time in MIAA openers while this is the first MIAA game for Northeastern State.
LAST TIME OUT
Rheanna Egli had a career high 20 points to lead five Lady Hornets in double figures as #20 Emporia State defeated Kansas Wesleyan 88-56 at White Auditorium. The Lady Hornets jumped out to a 14-2 lead at the first media timeout and never trailed in the contest. In addition to her 20 points, Egli dished a career high eight assists and had four steals. She was joined in double figures by Laura Patrick with 18 points, Desiree Wylie with 14 points and ten each from Rachel Hanf and Merissa Quick. Quick nearly had a triple double as she pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked a career high eight shots. As a team Emporia State made 12 of 24 treys, getting four each from Patrick and Egli and two each from Hanf and Haley Parker.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 46-19 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. He is 2-0 against Northeastern State.
Randy Gipson is 262-124 in his 14th year at Northeastern State. He is 0-3 all-time against Emporia State.
SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 3-1 on the year and ranked #20 in the latest USA Today Sports/WBCA National Poll. Three different Lady Hornets have recorded 20 point games in the first four contests. Three different Lady Hornets have recorded at least 11 rebounds in a game. Laura Patrick is averaging 15.8 points and Desiree Wylie averages 8.8 boards per game.
SCOUTING THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 3-3 on the season and are playing just their second home game of the year. The RiverHawks are in their first year in the MIAA after competing as an independent last season. Tosha Tyler is the leading scorer at 13.3 points per game while Sarah Green adds a team best 4.2 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES
ESU leads the all-time series 5-1 after sweeping the season series last year as non-conference foes. The Lady Hornets defeated the Riverhawks in the 2010 NCAA South Central Regional Championship game on the way to their first NCAA Division II National Championship.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHEASTERN ST.
In a battle of top 25 teams, #22 Emporia State defeated #10 Northeastern State 52-42 in White Auditorium. ESU trailed 12-2 with 11:53 left in the half but used a 15-0 run to take the lead with 3:05 left in the half. Heather Robben led all scorers with 16 points.
UP NEXT
Emporia State heads to Central Missouri on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.
