Women's Basketball | 2/20/2013 12:14:00 AM
TIME TO GO
The Lady Hornets begin a three game home stand against teams at the top of the MIAA with a rematch of the 2012 Regional Final against Pittsburg State. The Gorillas are two games behind Emporia State with two games against each in the next two weeks.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 59-24 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 0-5 against Pittsburg State.
Lane Lord is 102-65 in his sixth year at Pittsburg State and is 6-5 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 16-6 on the year and 11-3 in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets have won nine straight and 11 of their last 12 games. Emporia State is leading the MIAA in scoring in MIAA games at 70.7 points per game. Rachel Hanf has averaged 17.1 points during the winning streak. They have won nine straight in White, the 11th best home court streak in ESU history.
LAST TIME OUT
In a game that saw a combined 57 turnovers, the Emporia State Lady Hornets held on for a 62-55 victory at Missouri Southern on Saturday night. Merissa Quick led the Lady Hornet with 18 points on seven of ten shooting. She was joined in double figures by Rachel Hanf with 13 points and Laura Patrick with 12 points.
ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 15-7 on the year and 9-5 in the MIAA. They have won three in a row at home after dropping three straight on the road. The Gorillas are 3-4 on opponents home courts this season. As a team they are leading the MIAA in field goal percentage. Lizzy Jeronimus is leading the MIAA in scoring and is the only Gorilla that averages in double figures at 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Lauren Brown is the top rebounder at 8.0 rebounds per game and adds 7.1 points per game
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 48-24, but have lost six straight to the Gorillas for the first time in school history. The two met in the NCAA South Central Regional Championship game last season.
LAST TIME VS. PITTSBURG STATE
For the second time this year Emporia State saw Pittsburg State overcome a halftime deficit as the Gorillas defeated the Lady Hornets 79-67, this time in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship game. Emporia State was led by Kathryn Flott with 21 points and a career high five made three pointers. She was joined in double figures by Heather Robben with 17 points. Lizzy Jeronimus led all scorers with 35 points on 10 of 17 shooting from the field and 15 of 17 from the foul line.
UP NEXT
Emporia State plays host to Northeastern State on Saturday, Feb. 23 in White Auditorium. Tip-off is set for a rare 3:30 p.m. time slot. The Annual Lady Hornets Alumni game will be held earlier in the day in White Auditorium.
