Women's Basketball | 3/7/2013 12:59:00 AM
MARCH MADNESS IN MUNICIPAL
The Lady Hornets take on Truman in a rematch of last year's first round game. Emporia State is 26-12 all-time in MIAA Tournament play and the Lady Hornets are the last team to win four straight MIAA titles.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 61-26 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 4-2 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 4-2 against Truman, 1-0 in the MIAA Tournament.
Michael Smith is 68-67 in his fifth year at Truman. He is 2-8 against Emporia State, 0-1 in MIAA Tournament play.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Hornets punched their ticket straight to Kansas City with a 63-55 win at Pittsburg State. There were four ties and six lead changes in the opening half with neither team taking more than a five point lead. The Gorillas led 22-17 with 2:52 left in the half when the Lady Hornets got back to back threes by Laura Patrick and Rheanna Egli to ignite a 10-4 half ending run. Patrick had 14 points, Hanf scored 12 while Sarah Wood had 11 and Desiree Wylie added ten points.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 18-8 on the year and 13-5 in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets led the MIAA in scoring in conference play.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Truman is 20-7 on the year, 12-6 in the MIAA to earn the fifth seed in this year's tournament. They are ranked fifth in the Central Region. They lead the MIAA in free throw percentage and three-point percentage. Becka McHenry averages a team best 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 42-8 and has won 21 of the last 24 meetings. Emporia State is 3-1 in the MIAA Tournament with a 1-1 record in Municipal Auditorium.
LAST TIME VS. TRUMAN
Truman shot .652 in the second half as the Bulldogs defeated Emporia State 78-58 in Kirksville, Mo. 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.
LADY HORNETS MIAA HISTORY
The Lady Hornets are 26-12 all-time in the MIAA Tournament. They have secured a spot in the MIAA Quarterfinals for 17 straight years, the second longest active streak in the MIAA. Emporia State is an MIAA best 15-2 in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Championship Tournament and has been to nine title games in the last 15 years with four tournament titles.
LAST YEAR'S MIAA TOURNEY
Emporia State opened the 2012 tourney with a 64-63 victory over Truman. In the semifinals the Lady Hornets took a 68-60 win over Lincoln. Emporia State and Washburn met in the championship game for the third time in eight years. The Lady Blues hit nine of ten free throws in the last 1:48 to secure a 68-59 win.
LAST YEAR'S FIRST ROUND GAME
Kelsey Balcom hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with :00.7 left to give #24 Emporia State a 64-63 win over Truman in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. TSU took the lead with a free throw from Becka McHenry with 2:22 left at 60-59 and went up three on a pair of free throws with 1:56 remaining. Rheanna Egli pulled ESU to within 62-61 on a lay up with 1:31 left. McHenry made one free throw with :16.1 left to put TSU ahead 63-61. The Lady Hornets called timeout with :12.3 left to set up the final play. Balcom found herself open at the top of the key and nailed the three pointer. Merissa Quick led ESU with 20 points and was joined in double figures by Heather Robben with 14 points and Balcom with 11 points.
UP NEXT
The winner will play in the semifinals at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday against the winner of the game between top-seeded Washburn and ninth seeded Northwest Missouri.
