Women's Basketball | 2/7/2013 2:49:00 AM
IT'S ALL ACADEMIC
The Lady Hornets return to White Auditorium to take on Lincoln. Members of the Emporia State Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll will be recognized at halftime.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 55-24 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 5-0 against Lincoln.
Nicole Collier is 9-10 in her first year at Lincoln. This is her first meeting with Emporia State as a head coach.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 12-6 on the year and 7-3 in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets have won five straight and seven of their last eight games. They have won four straight MIAA games by at least ten points for the first time since Jan. 20-30, 2010. Rachel Hanf has scored at least 20 points in three straight games.
LAST TIME OUT
Rachel Hanf had 20 points and nine rebounds as Emporia State picked up their fifth straight win with a 72-58 victory at Northwest Missouri. Hanf became the first Lady Hornet to score at least 20 points in three straight games since Alli Volkens in 2010-11. She was joined in double figures by Laura Patrick with 11 points and Merissa Quick with ten. Hanf finished with a game high nine rebounds.
ABOUT THE BLUE TIGERS
Lincoln is 9-10 on the season and 4-7 in the MIAA. They are 3-4 away from Jason Gym. Arriana Walker is the leading scorer for the Blue Tigers at 13.8 points per game. She scored an MIAA Tournament record 39 points against Pittsburg State last year and had a season high 27 in LU's win over Missouri Western this year. The Blue Tigers rank second in the MIAA in steals and last in assists. Assistant coach Kiel Unruh as an assistant on Emporia State's 2010 National Championship team.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 19-2 and have won 13 straight against the Blue Tigers. Emporia State has won all eight meetings in Jefferson City, with the two wins by Lincoln both coming in White Auditorium. The two met in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament last season.
LAST TIME VS. LINCOLN
Emporia State got a double-double from Merissa Quick in just 19 minutes of action in a 68-60 win over Lincoln to advance to the MIAA Tournament Championship game. Quick led ESU with 16 points and ten rebounds and was joined in double figures by Jocelyn Cummings with 15 points and Kelsey Balcom with 11 points. Cummings held the Blue Tigers Arriana Walker, who scored a tournament record 39 points in the first round, scoreless from the field.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will play MIAA newcomer Lindenwood for the first time on Saturday. Tip-off for the Lady Hornets annual Think Pink game in White Auditorium is set for 1:30 p.m.
