Women's Basketball | 1/4/2013 10:08:00 PM
IT'S GETTING REAL
Emporia State plays their MIAA home opener against #10 Ft. Hays State. The Lady Hornets are 18-3 all-time in MIAA home openers and are 20-9 against nationally ranked teams in White Auditorium since 1997.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 48-23 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. He is 4-0 against FHSU.
Tony Hobson is 69-53 in his fifth year at Ft. Hays State and 280-93 overall in his 12th year as a head coach. He is 0-9 against ESU.
SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 5-5 on the year and 0-2 in the MIAA. They opened MIAA play falling in two road games and have played seven of their first ten games on the road. The Lady Hornets have four players averaging in double figures led by Laura Patrick's 14.8 points per game. The Lady Hornets have not had a losing record after 11 games since ending 1995-96 at 12-14.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State was tied with #6 Washburn at the 5:32 mark but the Lady Blues hit 11 of 13 free throws in the final 4:07 to secure a 79-68 win in a non-conference game in Topeka. Laura Patrick and Jocelyn Cummings each scored 14 points to pace Emporia State. Rachel Hanf led the Lady Hornets with ten rebounds and three assists.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Ft. Hays State is 10-1 overall, 2-1 in the MIAA and ranked #10 in the WBCA/USA Today Sports National Poll. They are leading the nation in scoring defense and scoring margin and are also ranked in the top five in blocks, fewest turnovers and assist/turnover ratio. Kate Lehman is averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and leads the nation with 4.3 blocks per game.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 42-26 and have won a series best 15 straight from the Tigers. Emporia State has won six straight against Ft. Hays State in Gross Coliseum, with the last loss coming in 2002-03. The Tigers have not defeated the Lady Hornets with both teams as members of the MIAA.
LAST TIME VS. FT. HAYS STATE
Heather Robben scored 25 points on nine of 12 shooting to lead #22 Emporia State to a 73-64 win over Ft. Hays State. Neither team led by more than five points in the first half as the teams went to the half tied at 28. In the second half ESU went on a 6-0 run capped by a Robben jumper with 10:20 left for a 45-40 lead. The Lady Hornets would not trail again and eventually pushed the lead to ten points. Robben was joined in double figures by Jocelyn Cummings with 15 points. Kelsey Balcom and Merissa Quick led ESU with nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets travel to Bolivar, Mo. on Tuesday to play Southwest Baptist. Tip-off from the Meyers Sports Center is set for 5:30 p.m.
