Women's Basketball | 3/4/2012 4:34:00 PM
Box Score
March 4, 2012-Emporia State battled back from a 17 point deficit to pull within six before falling 68-59 to Washburn in the MIAA Tournament Championship game in Municipal Auditorium. With the win, WU earned the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while ESU is expected to receive an at large bid.
The Lady Hornets led 5-0 before the Lady Blues got on the board with an Ebonie Williams free throw at the 16:43 mark. ESU led 16-14 with 9:44 left in the half as Rachel Hanf and Heather Robben combined for nine of the Lady Hornet points.
WU then went on a 13-2 run capped by Williams three pointer at the 3:41 mark to take a 27-18 lead. A pair of Dana Elliott free throws sent the Lady Blues to the locker rooms with a 33-22 lead.
The Lady Blues extended their lead to 17 points on a Cassie Lombardino free throw with 9:07 left in the game. Kelsey Balcom then jump started the Lady Hornet comeback with back to back three pointers to cut the lead to 51-40 with 7:51 left. Rheanna Egli got the lead into single digits with a jumper at the 7:10 mark. Kathryn Flott connected on a three pointer to cap an 11-0 run and make it 51-45 with 6:08 remaining.
Williams broke the run with a pair of free throws at the 6:08 mark and Jocelyn Cummings answered for ESU with a layup a minute later. Stevi Schultz and Williams then hit back to back three's for WU to push the lead back to 12 points with 3:35 left on the last field goals of the game for the Lady Blues.
Flott got another three to go down and Balcom followed with her third three of the night to pull the Lady Hornets within six at 59-53 with 2:08 left. WU then connected on nine of ten free throws in the final 1:48 to seal the win.
ESU was led by All-Tournament selection Kelsey Balcom with 17 points and eight rebounds. she was joined in double figures by Rheanna Egli with ten points. Tournament MVP Ebonie Williams led WU with 24 points.
ESU was 20 of 49 from the field for 40.8%, made nine of 18 three-point attempts, and were ten of 12 from the free throw line. WU went 21 of 48 from the field for 43.8%, were seven of 16 from the three-point line and converted on 19 of 23 from the charity stripe.
The Lady Hornets will learn their post season fate at 9 p.m. on Sunday night during the NCAA Selection Show. ESU will be holding a watch party at Bruff's to find out if they have made the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time in the last 16 years.
