November 29, 2014-The #2 Emporia State Lady Hornets overcame a 17 point first half deficit in a 63-56 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State in a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament first round game.
The Lady Hornets scored the first three points of the game on a jumper and oen of two free throws from Merissa Quick in the first 55 seconds of action. It would be the only field goal for Emporia State until Jacee Kramer hit a layup with 8:49 left in the half as the Lady Hornets went one for 20 from the field to start the game. The Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the game at 24-7 with 7:56 left in the half. Emporia State then held SWOSU scoreless for 7:01 and went on a 12-0 run to cut the Bulldog lead to five with 1:23 left. A lay-up by Morgan Vogt gave the Bulldogs a 26-19 lead at the break.
A Kelsey Barnwell old-fashioned three-point play tied the score at 31 with 15:39 left. Southwestern answered with an 8-2 run to retake a six point lead with 13:16 left. The Lady Hornets would retake the lead at 52-51 lead with 6:04 left on a jumper by Addie Lackey following a steal from Quick. The teams traded scores until Kelly Moten gave Emporia State the lead for good at 56-54 on a fast break layup following an Ashton Bruner steal with 1:45 left in the game. Following a block by Quick, her sixth of the night, Lackey hit a pair of free throws to give the Hornets a 58-54 lead with 1:24 remaining. Kyrstie Miller pulled a rebound off a missed three by the Bulldogs and Quick scored inside off an assist from Moten with 54 seconds left for a six point lead. The Lady Hornets hit three of four free throws in the final 27 seconds to ice the win.
Moten led Emporia State with 21 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Quick had a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. Lackey joined them in double figures with 13 points. Amber Vandiver had a game and career high 14 rebounds as the Lady Hornets outrebounded the Bulldogs 55-35 on the night.
The Lady Hornets will open MIAA play on Wednesday night against Northwest Missouri. Tip-off from Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium is set for 5:30 p.m.
NOTES
Quick passed Rachel Hanf for 18th on the Lady Hornet all-time scoring list and now has 1,222 points.
The win was the 19th straight in White Auditorium which ties the second longest home court winning streak in Lady Hornet history.
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