Women's Basketball | 3/2/2013 2:04:00 AM
REGULAR SEASON FINALE
The Lady Hornets travel to Pittsburg State in the final regular season game with the winner receiving a bye to Kansas City if Truman loses at Northwest Missouri.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 60-26 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 0-6 against Pittsburg State.
Lane Lord is 104-66 in his sixth year at Pittsburg State and is 7-5 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 17-8 on the year and 12-5 in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets have two home wins over top ten teams this season.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State snapped a two game losing streak with a 61-48 win over #5 Washburn in White Auditorium. Emporia State closed the half on an 8-2 run to close within a point at 26-25 going to the locker room and opened the second half half on an 11-2 run to take a 36-28 lead with 15:37 left. The Lady Hornets pushed the lead to 21 points at 59-38 with 5:14 remaining. Laura Patrick had 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals for Emporia State while Merissa Quick scored 11 points with a career high 20 rebounds to go with six blocked shots. Jocelyn Cummings added 11 points for the Lady Hornets.
ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 17-8 on the year and 11-6 in the MIAA. They had won six straight home games before losing to Missouri Southern in their last outing. Lizzy Jeronimus is leading the MIAA in scoring and is the only Gorilla that averages in double figures at 18.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Lauren Brown is the top rebounder at 8.0 rebounds per game and adds 7.3 points per game
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 48-25, but have lost seven 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
The Emporia State Lady Hornets saw their nine game winning streak come to an end in a 63-60 loss to Pittsburg State in White Auditorium. Pitt State led 59-51 with 3:46 left when Emporia State answered with a 7-0 run. Brigit Hesser hit one of two free throws with 21 seconds left to give the Gorillas a 62-60 lead. The Lady Hornets worked the clock down and Merissa Quick missed a jumper with :02 left. Quick ended with a career high 31 points for the Lady Hornets while Rachel Hanf added a double-double of 11 points and ten rebounds.
UP NEXT
Emporia State can secure a bye to Kansas City with a win and a Truman loss. If Truman wins the Lady Hornets will host a first round game at White Auditorium/Slaymaker Court on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., no matter what happens against Pittsburg State.
