Women's Basketball | 3/9/2013 12:29:00 PM
A TOURNEY TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The Lady Hornets and Washburn meet for the third straight year and seventh time overall in the MIAA Tournament. The two have split their last two meetings with Emporia State winning in the semifinals in 2011 and Washburn winning in the championship game last year.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 62-26 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 5-2 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 4-5 against Washburn, 1-1 in the MIAA Tournament.
Ron McHenry is 342-69 in his 13th year at Washburn. He is 24-13 against Emporia State, 5-1 in the MIAA Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Hornets held the nation's best three point shooting team to just .182 from behind the arc in a 61-56 win over Truman in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. Laura Patrick had a game high 18 points with five rebounds and three assists to lead the Lady Hornets. She was joined in double figures by Rheanna Egli with 14, including a three of five effort from behind the three-point line, and Merissa Quick with ten points and eight rebounds.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 19-8 on the year and were 13-5 in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets led the MIAA in scoring in conference play.
ABOUT THE LADY BLUES
Washburn is 23-4 on the year, went 16-2 in the MIAA, and are ranked #9 in the nation. The Lady Blues have won 12 of their last 13 games. Emporia State is the only team to score more than 60 points against them in the last 17 games. The Lady Blues lead the MIAA in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and rebound margin.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 45-44. This is the 32nd straight game that at least one team has been ranked in the WBCA Top 25. They are the last two MIAA teams to win national championships, with Washburn taking the 2005 title and Emporia State winning in 2010. The Lady Hornets and Lady Blues have met six previous times in the MIAA Tournament, three times in the semis and three times in the finals.
LAST TIME VS. WASHBURN
Emporia State snapped a two game losing streak with a 61-48 win over #5 Washburn in White Auditorium. The Lady Hornets opened the second half half on an 11-2 run to take a 36-28 lead and 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.
UP NEXT
The winner will play in the championship at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday against the winner of the game between Central Missouri and Ft. Hays State.
