Game #19
#2 Emporia State Lady Hornets (16-2, 9-2 MIAA)
vs. Neb.-Kearney Lopers (11-9, 5-6 MIAA)
Series Record: ESU leads 26-10 Last Meeting: at ESU 82, UNK 68 (Feb. 19, 2014)
Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium (5,000)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (12:40 p.m.) Internet Audio:
kvoe.comTelevision: None Internet Video:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/esuLive Stats Complete Release in pdfUp Next: Washburn • Feb. 4, 2015 • 5:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium (5,000)
SUPER SUNDAY
The #2 Lady Hornets will begin Super Bowl pregame festivities against Neb.-Kearney in White Auditorium after having their 23 game home court winning streak snapped on Wednesday.
LAST TIME OUT
The #2 Lady Hornets cut a 20 point deficit down to seven points with 9:59 left but couldn't get any closer in a 65-55 loss to #6 Ft. Hays State on Wednesday night in White Auditorium. Ft. Hays State used an 18-8 run to take a 35-15 lead with 4:10 left in the half. Emporia State held the Tigers scoreless for rest of the period but could only score six points themselves to cut the lead to 35-21 as the teams went to the locker rooms. Ft. Hays State pushed the lead to 20 points in the first 3:04 of the second half. The Lady Hornets then went on a 19-6 run to cut the lead to 51-44 on a three-pointer with 9:59 left. Back to back buckets gave the Tigers a 61-48 lead at the 2:31 mark. It would be the last field goal for Ft. Hays State who hit four of ten free throws down the stretch to keep the Lady Hornets at bay. Merissa Quick led Emporia State with 14 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots and was joined in double figures by Kathryn Flott with 11 points and Kelly Moten and Addie Lackey with ten each.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 112-33 in his fifth year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He has 20 career wins against Top 25 teams with 14 wins in the last 17 match-ups. This is his 14th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and Emporia State has advanced to the NCAA tournament in 12 of those seasons. He is 3-0 against Neb.-Kearney.
Kevin Chaney is 49-77 in his fifth year at UNK. He is 0-3 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 16-2, 9-2 in the MIAA and ranked #2 in the latest WBCA/USA TODAY Sports Top 25. The Lady Hornets lead the nation in blocks, field goal percentage defense and rebound margin. Ten players have scored in double figures with five over 20, seven have at least seven rebounds and eight have at least four assists in a game.
ABOUT THE LOPERS
Neb.-Kearney is 11-9 overall and 5-6 in the MIAA. All five starters average in double figures and at least 30 minutes a game. Amarah Williams leads the Lopers at 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the overall series 26-10. This is just the fourth game in White Auditorium since the 1988-89 season, the last time the Loper won in Emporia.
LAST TIME VS. NEB.-KEARNEY
The #7 Lady Hornets put six players in double figures led by Laura Patrick's 17 points in an 82-68 win over Neb.-Kearney. Emporia State never trailed in the game, getting out to a 12-5 lead in the first five minutes. The Lopers cut the lead to seven at 71-64 with 6:36 left when the Lady Hornets went on a 9-0 run to match their biggest lead of the game with 2:34 left. Patrick had seven rebounds and four assists to go with her 17 points. She was joined in double figures by Kelly Moten with 14 points, Desiree Wylie and Rheanna Egli with 12 each, Merissa Quick with 11 and Kionna Kellogg with ten points.
UP NEXT
The #2 Lady Hornets host Washburn on Wednesday in the 94th edition of the Turnpike Tussle. Tip is at 5:30 p.m. in White Auditorium.
HOME COOKIN'
The Lady Hornets had won 23 straight before Wednesday and have won 237 of the last 259 games at home. It was the second longest home court winning streak in Emporia State history. The Lady Hornets have not lost a non-conference home game since a 58-51 defeat by Harris-Stowe on Dec, 8, 2007. Emporia State has only lost 11 games to unranked NCAA teams in White Auditorium since 1997. The Lady Hornets are 387-90 (.811) overall since 1979 at home and hold the MIAA record for consecutive home wins with 62 set from 1997-2001. Emporia State is 10-5 against top ten teams in White Auditorium, with a 5-4 record in top ten match ups.
ROAD WARRIORS
Emporia State is 222-84 (.725) away from home, 76-25 (.752) in neutral site games and 47-12 (.797) against non-MIAA teams at neutral sites since 1997-98 with four of the losses in the Elite Eight. The Lady Hornets have gone on the road to defeat the #1 ranked team in the nation twice in regional tournaments and have eliminated the host team in five regional tournaments. Emporia State is 37-32 (.536) away from White Auditorium against Top 25 teams. The Lady Hornets are 116-44 (.725) on the road in MIAA league play since 1997-98.
RANKINGS
Emporia State is ranked #2 in the latest USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches Poll. The Lady Hornets ended the 2009-10 season ranked #1 after winning the national championship. Emporia State was also ranked #1 in the regular season in the Nov. 28, 2006 poll after opening at #3 in the 2006-07 Preseason Poll. The Lady Hornets were first ranked #1 in the Jan. 11, 2005 poll. The Lady Hornets have been in the Coaches Top 25 a total of 232 weeks since first appearing in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have been in the top ten for 166 weeks. There are three MIAA teams in the WBCA Top 10 and three more receiving votes. In other polls, the Lady Hornets are ranked #1 in the Bennett Basketball Rankings, and are #2 in the Massey Ratings and the D2SIDA National Poll.
QUICKEN
Merissa Quick (Sr./Cheney, Kan.) was a Second-Team All-MIAA pick and member of the All-Defensive Team. She was on the NCAA Division II Central Region All-Tournament team and Most Outstanding Player at the MIAA Tournament. She is ranked fifth in the nation in blocked shots per game. She had 14 points and a season high 14 rebounds with three blocked shots against Ft. Hays State. Her three blocked shots allowed her to break Esmary Vargas Sanchez Lady Hornet career record by one as she now has 263 blocks. She had eight points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench at Central Oklahoma. She was named MIAA Player of the Week after scoring 17 points with seven rebounds and three blocks at Pittsburg State. She had 11 points and six rebounds at Central Missouri. She scored 19 points with seven rebounds against Lindenwood. She had 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks at Mo. Southern. She recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds with six blocked shots against Southwestern Oklahoma State. She had a near triple double with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight blocked shots against Texas Woman's in the first game of the season. She scored 12 points with nine rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals at Kansas State. She had 18 points and six rebounds against Central Missouri and became the first player to earn back to back Most Outstanding Player honors at the MIAA Tournament. She had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds at Kansas last year. She was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection in 2012-13. She scored 11 points and had a career best 20 rebounds against Washburn as a sophomore. She scored a career high 31 points on 13 of 20 shooting against Pittsburg State as a sophomore. She had 222 rebounds as a freshman, the most by a Lady Hornet freshmen since Emporia State joined the MIAA. She was sixth in freshman scoring at ESU with 341 points and ranks fourth since joining the MIAA. Her 116 games played are the most by any active player in NCAA Division II and she is ranked third in blocked shots among active D-II players and ninth among all NCAA active players. She is record holder in career blocks with 263 and ranked third in single season blocked shots at Emporia State with 87 last season. She has 1,351 points to rank 15th on the Lady Hornet all-time list. She has 814 rebounds to rank eighth on the Emporia State all-time list and have her 15th among active Division II players. She is also ranked eighth in career free throws made with 359 in 518 attempts for the Lady Hornets. She is the only Lady Hornet with at least 1,300 points, 800 rebounds, 250 blocked shots in a career and one of only two active NCAA Division II players to reach those marks.
I BELIEVE I CAN FLY
Kelly Moten (So./Gary, Ind.) is tenth in the MIAA in scoring a 14.8 points per game and sixth in conference only games at 15.6 points per game. She scored ten points with nine rebounds and five assists against Ft. Hays State. She had her first career double-double with 15 points, ten rebounds, five assists and three steals at Central Oklahoma. She scored 20 points on a six of eight shooting with a career best four three-pointers at Northeastern State. She had 15 points and seven rebounds at Pittsburg State. She had 17 points and eight rebounds at Missouri Western. She scored 22 points with six rebounds, five steals and three assists against Lincoln. She had 14 points and five assists at Southern Arkansas. She scored a career high 24 points at Southwest Baptist. She scored 18 points on five of seven shooting from the field against Northwest Missouri. She had 21 points against Southwestern Oklahoma State. She had 15 points and five rebounds against Henderson State. She opened the season with 14 points and six assists against Texas Woman's. She had seven rebounds and six assists with two blocks and two steals at Kansas State. She scored then career highs in back to back games in the MIAA Tournament as she became the fourth freshman to earn All-Tournament honors. She had 17 points, five rebounds and five steals against Central Missouri in the MIAA Championship game. She scored 15 points with six rebounds and five assists against Southwest Baptist in the semifinals. She scored 262 points to rank 11th on the Lady Hornets all-time freshman scoring list and eighth since moving to the NCAA.
LEGACY
Addie Lackey (Fr./Hillsboro, Kan.) is ranked sixth in the MIAA in assists at 3.9 per game and is the only freshman in the league ranked in the top 15 of at least four statistical categories. She scored ten points against Ft. Hays State. She had 11 points on four of five shooting at Central Oklahoma. She had ten points, all in the second half, at Northeastern State. She scored 14 points at Pittsburg State. She had seven points and seven assists against Lindenwood. She scored 12 points with seven assists, three steals and two blocks against Lincoln. She had a career high 21 points on six of eight shooting from the field at Mo. Southern. She had 13 points and seven assists at Southern Arkansas. She scored nine points with six rebounds, four assists and three steals at Southwest Baptist. She scored 15 points against Newman. She scored 13 points against Southwestern Okla. She had seven assists and five steals against Henderson State. She scored 11 points with three assists at Midwestern State. She had 17 points at Kansas State and hit three three-pointers. She was named second-team All-Class by SportsinKansas.com for Hillsboro HS. She was a first-team All-Class 3A selection and a three-time state champion in volleyball. Her mother Kristi Nelson had 500 assists for the Lady Hornets from 1986-90 and her father Mark Lackey was a member of the Hornets from 1984-88.
FLOTTASTIC
Kathryn Flott (So./Olpe, Kan.) is back after sitting out the last two years with knee injuries. She is averaging 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds over the last three games. She scored 11 points with three three-pointers and six rebounds against Ft. Hays State. She had ten points and nine rebounds at Central Oklahoma. She had a game high ten rebounds to go with eight points at Northeastern State. She had a team high eight rebounds at Pittsburg State. She had seven points and five rebounds at Central Missouri. She scored nine points with eight rebounds against Lindenwood. She had eight points with two of three made three-pointers and seven rebounds against Lincoln. She scored seven points with a team high ten rebounds at Mo. Southern. She scored ten points with six rebounds in her first start of the year against Northwest Missouri. She had six rebounds in 20 minutes against Southwestern Oklahoma State. She had a career high 21 points against Pittsburg State in the 2012 NCAA Central Regional Championship game. She had her first career double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds against Mo. Southern as a freshman.
FROM KANSAS TO KANSAS CITY TO EMPORIA
Kelsey Barnwell (Jr./Kansas, Okla.) scored 12 points with three rebounds in her return to the starting line-up at Northeastern State. She had a career high 25 points on six of eight shooting from the field, going four of five from the three-point arc and hitting nine of ten free throws against Lincoln. She scored 16 points on six of nine shooting at Mo. Southern. She was four of five from behind the three-point line in just 17 minutes at Southern Arkansas. She had 12 points on three of four shooting against Newman. She scored 14 points against Northwest Missouri on three of five shooting. She scored nine points against Southwestern Oklahoma State. She had four assists against Southwestern. She hit three of four three-pointers for nine points at Midwestern State. She also had three rebounds and an assist against the Mustangs. She scored 12 points on five of eight shooting with a pair of three-pointers against Texas Woman's. She scored ten points against Evangel. She had two steals and two assists at Kansas State. She is in her first year with the Lady Hornets after two years at UMKC. She played in 26 games with 14 starts for the Kangaroos, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season. She led Kansas (Okla.) HS to a combined 59-7 record in her three years, including an Oklahoma 3A State Championship in 2009-10 and a runner-up finish as a junior. She was a three-time All-State selection by the Tulsa World and the Daily Oklahoman, twice earning first-team honors.
NOTHING GOOD COMES EASILY
Amber Vandiver (Sr./Westminster, Colo.) missed the Ft. Hays State game with a concussion and is doubtful for Neb.-Kearney. has led Emporia State in rebounding in seven games this year. She is averaging 7.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 18.4 minutes of action on the season. She scored eight points and pulled nine rebounds at Northeastern State. She had seven rebounds at Pittsburg State. She had seven rebounds and two blocked shots at Mo. Western. She had 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in 20 minutes against Lindenwood. She had 12 rebounds and three blocks at Southern Arkansas. She had ten points and eight rebounds at Southwest Baptist. She pulled nine rebounds and had five blocked shots in 17 minutes against Newman. She pulled a career high 14 rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma State. She had career highs of 24 points and eight blocked shots in 22 minutes against Henderson State. She had 13 points with eight rebounds and four blocks in 16 minutes against Southwestern. She scored 11 points and had five rebounds against Midwestern State. She had 13 points on five of seven shooting with eight rebounds and four blocked shots against Evangel. She scored a then career high 20 points with seven rebounds against Ft. Hays State in White Auditorium last season. She had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds against Concordia-St. Paul during the regular season. She transferred from Boise State where she averaged 6.8 points and 6.2 rebounds as a sophomore in 11 games. She was an All-State selection in both Idaho and Wyoming for Boise Capital HS as a senior and Laramie HS as a junior.
MILLER'S CROSSING
Kyrstie Miller (Fr./Holton, Kan.) is third on the team in steals, blocks and made three-pointers and fourth in assists while averaging just 16.8 minutes per game. She had a career high four steals against Ft. Hays State. She hit two of three three-pointers at Central Oklahoma for six points. She missed all six shots against Pittsburg State put did pull five rebounds. She had her first start against Central Missouri and tied her career high with 11 points and had career highs of eight rebounds and four steals in 34 minutes. She scored five points with four rebounds and three steals at Mo. Western. She reached double figures for the first time as a Lady Hornet with 11 points on four of seven shooting against Newman. She was three of five from the three-point arc and dished three assists against the Jets. She had four rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma. She scored six points with five assists, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal against Henderson State. She had five points and five rebounds in 15 minutes against Southwestern. She was perfect from the field including a two of two effort from behind the three-point line for eight points at Midwestern State. She scored eight points with four rebounds and two assists at Kansas State. Her three-pointer with 1:06 left gave Emporia State a 50-49 lead. She was named honorable mention All-State for Holton HS as a freshman and sophomore before earning first-team All-Class 4A honors as a junior and senior. The Wildcats played in two state championship games during her career, winning the state title in 2011 and finishing third last season. She scored 1,060 points and had 440 steals in 100 career varsity games.
KRAMER!
Jacee Kramer (Fr./Winchester, Kan.) had two assists, two rebounds and a steal at Central Oklahoma. She scored 11 points and went three of six from behind the three-point line at Southern Arkansas. She dished four assists against Newman. She had six points and four rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma State. She had career highs of 17 points and six assists against Southwestern. She scored six points on a pair of three-pointers at Midwestern State. She had three rebounds and two steals at Kansas State. She averaged 26.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.3 steals per game last year for the Jefferson County North HS. She was a first-team All-Class by KansasSports.com as a senior. She earned first-team All-Class 2A honors last year and has led JCNHS to the state championship game each of the last three years, winning the state title in 2011-12.
A BURNER NAMED BRUNER
Ashton Bruner (Jr./McPherson, Kan.) had five rebounds in eight minutes at Northeastern State She had six points and seven rebounds at Pittsburg State. She scored eight points on four of six shooting at Central Missouri. She had five points, five rebounds and three assists against Lindenwood. She had six points, four rebounds and two assists at Mo. Southern. She scored seven points and was three of four from the field at Southern Arkansas. She had seven points and seven rebounds at Southwest Baptist. She scored a career high ten points in just eight minutes against Newman. She had six points and seven rebounds against Northwest Missouri. She had seven rebounds against Henderson State. She scored six points and pulled seven rebounds against Southwestern. She four points and six rebounds with four assists in 19 minutes against Texas Woman's. She had six rebounds and two steals at Kansas State. She averaged 11.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game at Barton CC as the Cougars went 20-13 last season. She averaged 12.3 points and 6.5 rebounds as a senior for McPherson HS and earned second-team All-Class 4A honors from the KBCA. She was a first-team All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division II pick and led the Bullpups to a 24-1 State Championship season her senior year.
ALWAYS BE THERE
Whitney Gordon (Jr./Marion, Kan.) is averaging 3.3 rebounds per game in MIAA action, grabbing 18.4% of the available rebounds while she is on the floor in conference action. She had three rebounds and a blocked shot against Ft. Hays State. She hit a three-pointer and finished with four points and two rebounds against Lindenwood. She scored a career high six points with seven rebounds against Lincoln. She had five rebounds in nine minutes at Southwest Baptist. She pulled five rebounds in 11 minutes against Newman. She had eight rebounds and two steals against Northwest Missouri. She had four rebounds and three assists against Henderson State. She had a career high nine rebounds in 14 minutes against Southwestern. She had four rebounds in eight minutes at Kansas State. She is in her first year at Emporia State after transferring from the University of Wyoming. She played in 26 games during her two years with the Cowgirls. She was a three-time Honorable Mention KBCA All-State selection at Marion HS. She was a two-time First Team All-League honoree during her career. She averaged a double-double her last two years for the Lady Warriors at 12 points and 11 rebounds as a senior and 14 points and 11 rebounds as a junior.
HOLLOWAY WITH THE FALL AWAY
Megan Holloway (So./Salina, Kan.) scored five points at Northeastern State. She grabbed three rebounds at Missouri Western. She scored a season high 11 points on five of eight shooting against Lincoln. She had four points and two assists at Southern Arkansas. She scored a season high ten points and was perfect from the field and free throw line against Henderson State. She started and scored eight points at Neb.-Kearney last year. She scored 11 points in her Lady Hornet regular season debut against Indianapolis. She was a first-team All-Class 5A selection as a senior after earning second-team honors as a junior. She was a two-time first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail league pick. She averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Cougars as a senior.
COSTLEY RETURN
Brooke Costley (Fr.-RS/Mexico, Mo.) is out indefinitely with a knee injury. She made her Lady Hornet debut at Kansas State after she red-shirted her first year with a knee injury. She averaged 10.3 points and 3.5 assists per game and holds the Mexico HS single season records for assists and free throw percentage. She has earned All-North Central Missouri Conference honors all four years.
TOUGH ENOUGH
The MIAA has gone 87-23 (.791) in non-conference action this year with a 68-22 (.756) record against NCAA Division II schools. The 87 wins are the most non-conference wins by any NCAA Division II league this year. In the Central Region, the Northern Sun was 53-26 (.671) overall and 26-24 (.520) against D-II competition while the Great American Conference was 37-31 (.544) overall and 24-30 (.444) against Division II opponents.
BRING IT ON
The Lady Hornets are 65-43 (.602) against Top 25 teams since 1997-98. Emporia State is 25-10 (.714) at home against Top 25 teams since 1997. The Lady Hornets have 24 wins against Top 10 teams, including four against #1 teams in the last six seasons. Emporia State is 23-14 (.622) in neutral site games with top 25 foes since 1997.
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
Emporia State won their first national championship in 2010, 12 years after making their first appearance in the national title game. The Lady Hornets are ranked #2 in the latest USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches Poll. This is the third season Emporia State has earned a #1 ranking, first in 2004-05, again in 2006-07 and then after winning the 2009-10 national championship. The Lady Hornets are 10-4 all-time when playing as the #1 team in the nation. This was the 18th straight year the Lady Hornets received votes in the preseason poll and it is the 13th time they have been ranked in the top 15 nationally in that span. The Lady Hornets have assured themselves of 19 straight winning seasons, the longest active streak in the MIAA. They have been in 18 straight MIAA tournaments, the second longest active streak in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets have won seven MIAA regular season championships in the last 16 years. They have made the NCAA Tournament 16 times in the last 18 years and their 32-15 record in the tourney is ranked fourth among active Division II schools in total wins. Emporia State has made five Elite Eight trips, tied with Delta State, Northern Kentucky and North Dakota for the most since 1997.
LET'S HANG SOME MORE
Aneta Kausaite, Jurgita Kausaite, Tara Holloway-Churchill, Emily Bloss-Carpenter, Michelle Stueve-Corpening, Cassondra Boston and Alli Volkens have had their jerseys retired in White Auditorium for earning All-American honors at Emporia State, graduating and playing at least two years for the Lady Hornets.
ALL-TIME ALL-MIAA TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lady Hornets Emily Bloss, Tara Holloway and Jurgita Kausaite were named to the ten person All-Time All-MIAA Tournament Team by a panel of past and current sports information directors and media members prior to the 2007 Tournament. Bloss averaged 17 points in her twelve tournament games, including a tournament record 76 points as a senior. Holloway scored 151 points in her career. Kausaite scored 120 points in six tournament games. Emporia State's is 26-12 all-time in MIAA Tournament play and the Lady Hornets are the last team to win four straight MIAA titles.
MIAA TOURNEY EXCELLENCE
Emporia State has won the last two MIAA Tournament Championships and are the first team to have two different streaks of at least four straight championship games. The Lady Hornets won four straight championships from 1998-2001 and have been in the last four title games.
NEWBIES
Kelly Moten became just the fourth freshman to earn All-Tournament honors at the MIAA Tournament. All four freshmen were Lady Hornets and Moten is the first to earn the honors coming off the bench.
LADY HORNETS NCAA HISTORY
The Lady Hornets have made the NCAA Tournament for 16 times in the last 18 years and their 32-15 record in the tourney is ranked fourth all-time among active Division II schools in total tourney wins. Emporia State won the 2010 National Championship, were national runners-up in 1998, advanced to the Final Four in 1999 and were also in the Elite Eight in 2000 and 2006.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Lady Hornets have topped the 100-point barrier 66 times and have eclipsed the 110 point mark 27 times in their history. Since 1997-98, the Lady Hornets are 251-2 (.992) when scoring at least 80 points. The first loss was to North Dakota, 87-81 in the 1999 Final Four and the second came at West Texas A&M, 86-83 in the 2009 NCAA South Central Regional Semifinals. Emporia State was 167-22 (.884) in the previous 23 seasons when scoring at least 80 points. Conversely Emporia State is 137-2 (.986) all-time when holding opponents to 50 points or less.
LOCK DOWN
The Lady Hornets have not allowed a team to score 100 points against them since a 106-75 loss to West Texas A&M on Nov. 29, 1991 a streak of 719 games. They are leading the nation in blocked shots and rebound margin, and are ranked second in field goal percentage defense and scoring defense. Emporia State led the nation in scoring defense during the 2000-01 season, allowing just 50.6 points per game to rank 20th all-time in single season defense in NCAA Division II history.
HERE THEY COME
Emporia State has played in front of at least 1,000 fans in White Auditorium in every home game since January 2, 1999 - a span of 231 games. The Lady Hornets are leading the MIAA in average attendance this season at 1,965 through eight games. They are the best overall draw in the MIAA as well this season, averaging 1,516 in 18 total games this season. Last season, the Lady Hornets averaged 1,847 per game to rank fourth nationally. The Lady Hornets national championship game drew a standing room only crowd of 3,405 to the St. Joseph Civic Arena in 2010. The Lady Hornets averaged a school record 2,684 fans over 13 home dates in 2005-06 to finish third in the nation and led the nation with an average attendance of 2,348 fans for their 15 home dates in 2004-05. Emporia State has been in the top six of the nation in attendance in each of the last 17 years.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Lady Hornets are in the top 25 nationally in eight categories. They lead the nation in blocked shots at 8.6 per game and rebounding margin at +14.3 rebounds per game, are ranked second in field goal percentage defense at 31.5% and scoring defense at 53.0 points per game, fifth in scoring margin at +22.0 points per game, eighth in three-point field goal percentage at 38.8%, tenth in defensive rebounds per game at 31.0 per game, 22nd in three-point field goal percentage defense at 26.5%. Emporia State is 27th in field goal percentage at 44.4% and are 34th in scoring offense at 75.0 points per game.
NOT SUCH A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Concordia-St. Paul's victory over Harding last year meant the host team for the NCAA Regional the Lady Hornets compete in has won the tournament only once in the last ten years. The first eight years of the streak were in the South Central Region. In that same time, the host team has advanced to the regional final only twice with Emporia State defeating Washburn in 2006 in Lee Arena and West Texas A&M defeating Central Oklahoma in 2009 in Canyon, Texas.
LADY HORNET SUCCESS ON THE COURT...
The Lady Hornets have the best record in MIAA play in the 21st century. ESU is 225-65 (.776) in MIAA play since the 2000 season and 389-102 (.792) overall in that time. The Lady Hornets are even better if you add two more years to the equation. Since the 1997-98 season, Emporia State is 257-66 (.796) in MIAA play and 452-106 (.810) overall. The Lady Hornets have been ranked in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll 166 times, the most of any current NCAA Division II school. Emporia State has been to 16 NCAA Tournaments, made the Regional Championship or "Sweet 16" ten times, has made five trips to the Elite Eight, three to the Final Four, two national title game appearances and won the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship. The Lady Hornets have won seven MIAA Regular season and six Tournament Championships and are the only team to win four straight undisputed (untied regular season and tournament) MIAA Championships pulling the trick from 1998-2001. They have been in four straight MIAA Tournament Championships games, been to 11 of the last 17 MIAA Tournament Title Games and won six tourney titles.
...AND IN THE CLASSROOM
Lady Hornets have been honored as Academic All-Americans three times since joining the NCAA. Michelle Stueve was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second-team in 2007-08 and was a three-time Academic All-District VII performer. Emily Bloss was a three-time Academic All-American and was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 2001.
ON THE AIR
The Lady Hornets have been seen on national television four times in the last 14 years and are 3-1 in those games following their 65-53 national championship win over Ft. Lewis on ESPN2 in 2010. ESU's 97-94 overtime victory over then #1 Gannon was shown on ESPNU. The Lady Hornets 74-67 victory over Washburn in 2007 was televised nation wide on CSTV. It was the first time a basketball game was televised nationally from White Auditorium and the first time an MIAA regular season basketball game, men or women, had been telecast nationwide. The Lady Hornets national championship game against North Dakota in 1998 was seen on ESPN. The Turnpike Tussle game against Washburn in White Auditorium on Jan. 15, 2011 was available across Mid-America on the MIAA Broadcasting Network while the Lady Hornets appearances in the last four MIAA Tournament Championship Games have all been televised by the MIAA Network.
END GAME
The Lady Hornets are 260-6 (.977) when leading at the 5:00 mark since the start of the 2004-05 season and are 427-12 (.973) since 1997 with a lead at the 5:00 mark.
STREAKS AND SUCH
•The Lady Hornets have hit a three pointer in 282 straight games dating back to a zero for 14 effort at Washburn on Feb. 15, 2006.
•The Lady Hornets have held their last 719 opponents to under 100 points dating back to a 106-75 loss to West Texas A&M in Hays, Kan. on Nov. 29, 1991.
•The Lady Hornets have won 24 straight non-conference games in White Auditorium dating back to a 58-51 loss to Harris-Stowe on December 8, 2007.
•The Lady Hornets have won at least ten home games in 18 straight seasons.
•The Lady Hornets ended the longest winning streak in NCAA Division II history (51 games) with their 61-59 overtime victory over Washburn on March 13, 2006 in the South Central Regional final and the longest single season winning streak (37 games) with their 97-94 overtime victory over Gannon on March 24, 2010 in the national semifinals.
•The Lady Hornets have defeated the host team in three of the last four regional tournaments they have played in (at Washburn 65-58 in 2013; at Washburn 71-65 in 2012; at West Texas A&M 76-69 in 2010).
•The Lady Hornets won six straight games against nationally ranked teams prior to falling in the 2013 regional championship game, the longest streak since winning seven straight over the 1999-2000 through 2000-01 seasons and the longest single season streak since winning seven straight on the way to the 1998 national championship game.
TIP-INS
• The Lady Hornets have won 20 games in 12 straight seasons, 17 times in the last 18 years and 22 times in the program's 38 year history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 25 games ten times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 30 games four times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets are 814-367 (.689) overall in 41 years of action.
• The Lady Hornets are the only team to appear in the NCAA top twenty season records for scoring offense (17th - 90.0 in 1998; 8th - 91.3 in 1999; 18th - 89.9 in 2000) and scoring defense (18th - 50.6 in 2001).
• The Lady Hornets have had nine of the last 16 MIAA MVPs, five of the last 12 Freshmen of the Year and won the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011-12.
