Women's Basketball | 1/17/2013 2:42:00 PM
BACK IN WHITE AUDITORIUM
Emporia State returns to White Auditorium to take on Missouri Western in the first of three straight home games.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 50-24 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 seven wins against Top 25 teams. This is his 12th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and Emporia State has advanced to the NCAA tournament in ten of those seasons. He is 3-1 against Missouri Western.
Rob Edmisson is 12-3 in his first year at Missouri Western and is 224-34 in his eighth year as a four year coach. This is his first meeting with Emporia State.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 7-6 on the year and 2-3 in the MIAA. Their first 13 opponents are a combined 118-69 (.631) with the losses coming to teams that are 63-16 (.797) on the season. Eight of the 11 NCAA schools they have played have received votes in the WBCA National Poll or played in last year's NCAA Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
The top shooting team in the nation, Truman shot .652 in the second half as the Bulldogs defeated Emporia State 78-58 in Kirksville, Mo. on Saturday. The Lady Hornets led 38-37 but Truman hit ten of their next 11 shots from the field and were seven of seven from the free throw line to take a 66-44 lead with 8:10 left. Laura Patrick led Emporia State with 18 points but was the only Lady Hornet in double figures.
ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 12-3 on the year and 5-2 in the MIAA. Two of their three losses have been by just two points as they have already surpassed their win total from last year. Nine different players have started at least two games this year. Heather Howard is the only Griffon scoring in double figures, but averages a double-double at 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She is second in the MIAA in rebounding.
THE SERIES
This will be the 81st meeting between the two teams with ESU holding the 50-30 overall advantage. The Lady Hornets have won eight straight in White Auditorium and are 29-11 against the Griffons all-time in Emporia.
LAST TIME VS. MISSOURI WESTERN
Heather Robben scored 27 points including nine points in the final minute to lead the #17 Lady Hornets to a 73-65 win over Missouri Western in White Auditorium. Emporia State led by as many as 17 points in the first half and had 13 point lead with 12:23 remaining. Western would cut the lead to one at 60-59 with 2:42 left but Robben then hit a pair of free throws with 1:58 left and Kathryn Flott hit a layup to give Emporia State a 64-59 lead with 1:11 left. Robben hit a three pointer with 19 seconds left and the shot clock winding down to put ESU up 69-63. Merissa Quick joined Robben in double figures with ten points.
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets take on Missouri Southern on Wednesday, January 23. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 5:30 p.m.
