Women's Basketball | 3/10/2012 4:28:00 AM
TURNPIKE TUSSLE PART 4
For just the second time in history, Emporia State and Washburn will play a fourth game in a season when the #23 Lady Hornets take on the #9 Lady Blues in the NCAA South Central Regional Semifinals.
LAST TIME OUT
Heather Robben scored a game high 19 points, including a ten of ten performance from the free throw line, to lead Emporia State to a 64-56 victory over Tarleton State. The Lady Hornets settled into a five point lead at 33-28 going to the half. An 11-1 run in the second half turned an eight point ESU lead into a 44-42 lead by TSU with 9:46 left in the game. Robben converted another old fashioned three on the next possession to give the Lady Hornets the lead for good. The TexAnns were still within 49-48 with 6:42 left when the Lady Hornets went on a 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 58-48 with 3:55 left in the game. ESU went eight for eight from the line in the final four minutes to ice their seventh straight win in NCAA Tournament play. Robben was joined in double figures by Balcom with 16 points. Merissa Quick had nine rebounds as the Lady Hornets outrebounded the TexAnns 44-23.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 42-17 in his second year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He is 5-2 in the month of March. He has five wins against 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 2-4 against Washburn.
Ron McHenry is 319-64 in his 12th year at WU and is 23-11 against ESU.
SCOUTING THE LADY BLUES
Washburn is 29-4 overall and #9 in the WBCA Top 25. They are led in scoring by Seton Hall transfer Ebonie Williams at 15.3 points per game. Sierra Moeller was the leading rebounder for WU at 6.7 boards per game before breaking her hand against MWSU in the MIAA Tournament.
THE SERIES
The all-time series is tied at 43, while the Lady Blues lead 3-1 in the NCAA Tournament. This is the 27th time the two have met with both teams ranked in the top 25. They are the last two MIAA teams to win national championships, with WU taking the 2005 title and ESU winning in 2010. The last time the two met four times in a season, WU swept the series and went on to win the national championship. The last time they played an NCAA Tourney game in Lee Arena, ESU snapped WU's 51 game winning streak with a 61-59 overtime victory in 2006.
LAST TIME VS. WASHBURN
Emporia State battled back from a 17 point deficit to pull within six before falling 68-59 to Washburn in the MIAA Tournament Championship. The Lady Blues went to the locker room with a 33-22 lead and extended their lead to 17 points with 9:07 left in the game. ESU hit three treys during an 11-0 run to make it 51-45 with 6:08 left. WU connected on nine of ten free throws in the final 1:48 to seal the win. ESU was led by Kelsey Balcom with 17 points and eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
The winner plays in the regional championship game on Monday for the right to go to the Elite Eight. Tip-off on Monday is scheduled for 7 p.m.
