Game #10
#3 Emporia State Lady Hornets (8-1, 2-1 MIAA)
at Missouri Southern Lions (8-2, 2-2 MIAA)
Series Record: ESU leads 52-23 Last Meeting: ESU 75, at MSSU 53 (Dec. 20, 2014)
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 • 5:30 p.m. • Joplin, Mo. • Leggett & Platt Center (3,200)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (5:10 p.m.) Internet Audio:
kvoe.comTelevision: None Internet Video:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/esu/Live Stats Complete Notes in pdf Up Next: at Pittsburg State • Dec. 19, 2015 • 1:30 p.m. • Pittsburg, Kan. • John Lance Arena (3,500)
ENDING THE YEAR
The #3 Lady Hornets travel to Missouri Southern for the first of a two game road trip to end the 2015 calendar year. It is the second straight game and third time in four games that Emporia State has travelled to Joplin.
LAST TIME OUT
The #3 Lady Hornets scored 28 points in the fourth quarter on the way to a 71-55 win over Central Missouri in White Auditorium. Emporia State led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter and took a 34-26 lead into halftime. The Jennies outscored the Lady Hornets 17-9 in the third quarter, the first time this year Emporia State had been outscored in the third period, to send the teams to the final quarter tied at 43. Kelsey Barnwell hit back to back threes to start the fourth and give the Lady Hornets the lead for good. Sandra Ngoie led Emporia State with 18 points, ten rebounds, three assists, a block and an assist. Barnwell tied her for game high honors with 18 points while Addie Lackey joined them in double figures with 16 points and a team high four assists. Kathryn Flott had a game high 13 rebounds.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 133-37 in his sixth year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He has 25 career wins against Top 25 teams with 19 wins in the last 25 match-ups. This is his 15th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and Emporia State has advanced to the NCAA tournament in 13 of those seasons. He is the first Lady Hornet coach to have five 20 win seasons in his first five years as head coach. He is 7-1 against Mo. Southern.
Ronda Hubbard is 47-17 in her third season at Mo. Southern. She is 0-2 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-1 on the season, 2-1 in the MIAA and ranked #3 in the WBCA Top 25. The Lady Hornets lead the MIAA in field goal percentage defense and rebound margin. Kelly Moten is ranked seventh in the MIAA in scoring at 15.3 points per game and is joined in double figures by Sandra Ngoie at 12.0 and Kelsey Barnwell at 11.7 points per game. Barnwell is shooting .444 from the arc to lead the MIAA.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 8-2 on the season and 2-2 in the MIAA. They are led by Sharese Jones at 18.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. The Lions lead the MIAA in opponents rebounding, allowing just 30.7 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the overall series 52-23, and have won 22 of the last 25 meetings overall. Emporia State has won 19 straight against Missouri Southern in White Auditorium dating back to the 1995-96 season and are 10-5 all-time at the Leggett & Platt Center in Joplin.
LAST TIME VS. MSSU
Addie Lackey scored a career high 21 points to lead the top ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets to a 75-53 win over #22 Missouri Southern. Lackey was six of eight from the field and four of five from behind the three-point line. She was joined in double figures by Kelsey Barnwell with 16 points and Merissa Quick with 12 points. Kathryn Flott had ten rebounds.
UP NEXT
The #3 Lady Hornets travel to Pittsburg, Kan. on Saturday to take on Pittsburg State. Tip-off from John Lance Arena is set for 1:30 p.m.
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
The Lady Hornets are ranked #3 in this week's USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches Poll, the 176th week for Emporia State in the top ten. The Lady Hornets have a streak of 19 straight winning seasons, the longest active streak in the MIAA. They have made the NCAA Tournament 17 times in the last 19 years and their 36-16 record in the tourney is ranked fourth among active Division II schools in total wins.
ROAD WARRIORS
Emporia State is 236-87 (.731) away from home, 85-26 (.775) in neutral site games and 52-13 (.800) against non-MIAA teams at neutral sites since 1997-98 with five 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 six regional tournaments. Emporia State is 42-35 (.545) away from White Auditorium against Top 25 teams. The Lady Hornets are 119-46 (.721) on the road in MIAA league play since 1997-98. Emporia State is 33-13 (.717) in NCAA Tournament games away from White Auditorium.
I BELIEVE I CAN FLY
Kelly Moten (Jr./Gary, Ind.) is seventh in the MIAA in scoring, is second in the league in assists and field goal percentage, seventh in assist to turnover ratio and 12th in free throw percentage. She was held scoreless against Central Missouri, the first time she had failed to score since a zero for four performance at Newman her freshman year. She earned MIAA Player of the Week honors after averaging 21.5 points and seven rebounds at Neb.-Kearney and Ft. Hays State. She had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists at Ft. Hays State. She had a career high 31 points with seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal at Neb.-Kearney. It was the first 30 point game by a Lady Hornet since Merissa Quick had 31 against Pittsburg State in 2013. She had 17 points on seven of ten shooting with six assists off the bench against Hawai'i Hilo. She had 18 points against Cameron. She scored 25 points on ten of 16 shooting with six rebounds, three assists and two steals against Oklahoma Baptist. She had 19 points and five assists at Southwestern Oklahoma. She scored 19 points with eight rebounds and five assists at Kansas in exhibition action this year.
She was a first-team All-MIAA selection, a member of the MIAA All-Defensive Team, was named the Most Outstanding Player at the MIAA Tournament and was on the All-Central Regional Tournament team last year. She had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists against California (PA) in the Final Four. She was five for five from the field, tying the best perfect performance in an NCAA Tournament game by a Lady Hornet, and finished with 16 points against West Texas. She had 20 points and a career high 13 rebounds against Ft. Hays State in the regional championship game. She had 16 points and 12 rebounds against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Championship Game. She scored 24 points against Pittsburg State and added six rebounds, four assists and three blocks. She had a double-double with 19 points and ten rebounds against Northeastern State. She scored 15 points with seven rebounds against Washburn. She had her first career double-double with 15 points, ten rebounds, and five assists at Central Oklahoma. She scored 20 points on a six of eight shooting with four three-pointers at Northeastern State. She had 15 points and seven rebounds at Pittsburg State. She scored 22 points with six rebounds, and five steals against Lincoln. She scored 24 points at Southwest Baptist. She had 21 points against Southwestern Oklahoma State. She had seven rebounds and six assists with two blocks and two steals at Kansas State.
She had 17 points, five rebounds and five steals against Central Missouri in the 2014 MIAA Championship game.
She has scored 907 points in 77 career games.
SWEDISH CHEF
Sandra Ngoie (Sr./Stockholm, Sweden) is ninth in the MIAA in rebounding and seventh in defensive rebounds. She is averaging 15.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in seven starts this season. She scored 18 points with ten rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal against Central Missouri. She had 15 points and five rebounds at Ft. Hays State. She scored 17 points with five boards at Neb.-Kearney. She had ten points and nine rebounds against Hawai'i Hilo. She had 18 points and ten rebounds against Hawai'i Pacific. She had 16 points and pulled seven rebounds against Science & Arts. She had 12 points and nine rebounds against Cameron. She was limited in the first two games due to a stomach virus. She scored ten points, pulled eight rebounds and had three blocks at Kansas
She averaged 11.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game over two years with George Mason and was ranked seventh in Patriots history with 131 made three-pointers. She had a career high 29 points against VCU in 2015 and Richmond in 2014, tying the Mason single game record with seven three-pointers against VCU last year. She played one year at Georgia Tech before playing the last two years at Mason. She was named to the 2009 and 2010 Swedish Championships U20 All-Star team.
FLOTTASTIC
Kathryn Flott (Jr./Olpe, Kan.) is second in the MIAA in rebounding and defensive rebounds and ranks third in offensive rebounds. She pulled 13 boards against Central Missouri, her fourth double figure rebound game this year. She had eight points and seven rebounds at Ft. Hays State. She scored 12 points at Neb.-Kearney. She had 11 rebounds with eight points against Hawai'i Pacific. She scored 11 points with six rebounds against Science & Arts. She had a career high 15 rebounds against Cameron. She had seven points and tied her career high with 14 rebounds at Southwestern Oklahoma. She had four points and six rebounds at Kansas.
She pulled 11 rebounds against California (PA) in the Final Four last year. She had 12 points and 13 rebounds against West Texas in the Elite Eight. She had 13 points and ten rebounds with two blocked shots against Ft. Hays State in the regional final. She had 14 points and nine rebounds against Pittsburg State in the regional semifinals. She hit three three-pointers against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Championship Game. She scored 12 points on five of seven shooting with a career high three blocked shots against Missouri Western in the MIAA quarterfinals. She had a double-double with 12 points and a career best 14 rebounds against Pittsburg State. She scored 13 points with three three-pointers at Washburn. She had ten rebounds at Northeastern State. She had ten rebounds at Missouri Southern.
She missed two years with different knee injuries. She had a career high 21 points against Pittsburg State in the 2012 NCAA Central Regional Championship game.
She is in her fifth year with the Lady Hornets. She was a part of the NCAA D2 USA Select team that toured Brazil last summer and was coached by Mo. Southern's Ronda Hubbard.
FROM KANSAS TO KANSAS CITY TO EMPORIA
Kelsey Barnwell (Sr./Kansas, Okla.) leads the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage and is fourth in made three-pointers. She had 18 points with four made three-pointers against Central Missouri after going zero for five in her previous two games from the field. She scored 21 points with three assists and three steals against Hawai'i Hilo. She was five of six from the field and four of five from behind the arc for 14 points against Science & Arts. She scored 11 points and hit three three-pointers against Cameron. She had 15 points and five assists against Oklahoma Baptist. She was five of six from behind the three-point line and finished with 16 points at Southwestern Oklahoma.
She had 15 points against Pittsburg State in the regional semifinals. She scored 11 points on four of five shooting in the second half against Arkansas Tech. She had a career high five rebounds against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Championship game. She had 12 points on five of six shooting in her return to Municipal Auditorium against Missouri Western in the MIAA quarterfinals. She scored 17 points with a career high three steals at Ft. Hays State. She scored 12 points with three rebounds 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 at Southern Arkansas.
She played 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.
LEGACY
Addie Lackey (So./Hillsboro, Kan.) is ninth in the MIAA in free throw percentage in conference games only. She had a season high 16 points against Central Missouri along with four assists, three rebounds a block and a steal. She scored ten points at Ft. Hays State. She had eight points on three of five shooting with three assists and two steals against Hawai'i Hilo. She dished a career high 12 assists against Science & Arts and scored nine points. She had 11 points at Southwestern Oklahoma.
She was named MIAA Freshman of the Year and honorable mention All-MIAA last season. She was three for four from the three-point line and had 13 points against Ft. Hays State in the regional final. She scored 15 points at Neb. Kearney. She was six of nine from the field and scored 15 points against Neb.-Kearney. She had 11 points on four of five shooting at Central Oklahoma. She scored 14 points at Pittsburg State. She scored 12 points with seven assists against Lincoln. She had a career high 21 points on six of eight shooting from the field at Missouri Southern. She had 17 points at Kansas State and hit three three-pointers.
Her 318 points are seventh and her 99 assists are second among freshmen at Emporia State since they joined the MIAA. 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.
HOLLOWAY WITH THE FALL AWAY
Megan Holloway (Jr./Salina, Kan.) had six points and a steal against Central Missouri in her second start of the year. She scored six points at Ft. Hays State. She had seven points, five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in her first start of the year against Hawai'i Hilo. She scored nine points against Science & Arts. She was six of six from the free throw line against Cameron. She had five points and three rebounds against Oklahoma Baptist. She had four points and three rebounds at Kansas.
She scored six points on three of five shooting against Pittsburg State in the MIAA Tournament semifinals. She had a career high seven rebounds against Missouri Western in the MIAA quarterfinals. She scored a season high 11 points on five of eight shooting against Lincoln. She scored a season high ten points against Henderson State.
She scored 11 points in her Lady Hornet regular season debut against Indianapolis in 2013.
MILLER'S CROSSING
Kyrstie Miller (So./Holton, Kan.) is tenth in the MIAA in blocked shots. She was three of five from the field for six points at Ft. Hays State. She tied her career high with ten rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She had a career high 17 points on six of nine shooting from the field and hit five of eight from the three-point arc against Science & Arts. She scored four points with three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal against Cameron. She scored ten points at Southwestern Oklahoma.
She was second on the team in steals and blocks, and fourth in assists and three-pointers while averaging 18.5 minutes per game last year. She scored seven points with three blocked shots against Ft. Hays State in the regional championship game. She had a career high ten rebounds against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Championship game. She had eight rebounds, five steals and three blocks against Central Oklahoma. She had nine points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block against Northeastern State. She had her first start against Central Missouri and tied her then career high with 11 points and had then career highs of eight rebounds and four steals. She reached double figures for the first time as a Lady Hornet with 11 points on four of seven shooting against Newman. She scored six points with five assists, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal against Henderson State. 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 at Bramlage Coliseum.
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. She scored 1,060 points and had 440 steals in 100 career varsity games.
KRAMER!
Jacee Kramer (So./Winchester, Kan.) scored 12 points and had eight rebounds at Ft. Hays State. She had 15 points with seven rebounds and four assists against Science & Arts. She scored ten points against Cameron. She had 14 points against Oklahoma Baptist. She scored six points at Kansas.
She reached double figures in seven games last year. She was four of four from the free throw line against Ft. Hays State in the regional final. She was four for four from the line against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Championship game and tied the record for the most free throws without a miss in tournament history, going 12 for 12. She had ten points, all in the second half, against Pittsburg State in the semifinals. She was six of six from the free throw line against Missouri Western in the quarterfinals. She had ten points against Central Oklahoma. She was eight for eight from the free throw line on her way to ten points at Ft. Hays State. She scored ten points with two assists and two steals against Neb.-Kearney. She scored 11 points and went three of six from behind the three-point line at Southern Arkansas. 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 led JCNHS to the state championship game three times.
BACK FROM THE GRAVE
Tatum Graves (Fr./Shawnee, Kan.) is in her first year with the Lady Hornets and is also a member of the Emporia State volleyball team. She made her debut on the basketball court against Science & Arts just four days after wrapping up the volleyball season in the MIAA Tournament. She averaged 1.74 kills on a team best .288 hitting for the Hornets.
She was an honorable mention All-State selection for Shawnee Mission Northwest HS as a senior. She earned All-Sunflower League honors in both basketball and volleyball for Northwest.
BAKER'S DOZEN
Shelby Baker (Fr./Spring Hill, Kan.) had five rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She had a career high eight rebounds and hit two three-pointers against Science and Arts. She scored eight points on three of four shooting with two free throws against Cameron. She had five rebounds against both Oklahoma Baptist and Southwestern Oklahoma. She had six rebounds at Kansas.
She was as a second-tream All-Frontier League selection as a junior and a two-time honorable mention All-Class 4A honoree.
BLOSSOMING
Tiana Moala (Fr./Paola, Kan.) was two of three from the field and pulled three rebounds in eight minutes against Hawai'i Hilo. She pulled five boards against Science & Arts. She had five points and five rebounds against Cameron. She had five rebounds at Southwestern Oklahoma.
She was a first-team All Class 4A Division I selection for Paola HS. She averaged 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as she was named the Tri-County Spotlight Player of the Year and honorable mention All-Class 4A honors as a junior. She led the Panthers to the state tournament each of the last three years.
SAY IT LOUD
Maria Moylan (Fr./St. Marys, Kan.) is in her first year with the Lady Hornets. She had two assists against Science and Arts.
She was a first-team All-Mid East League pick and an honorable mention All-Class 3A selection for St. Marys HS as a senior.
FROM THE VALLEY
Brittany Kramer (So./Melvern, Kan.) is redshirting this year with the Lady Hornets after transferring from Hesston College. She averaged 15.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore for the Larks. She had a season high 39 points including a six of eight performance from behind the three-point arc against Brown Mackie.
She was a first-team All-Class 1A selection for Marais des Cygnes Valley HS as a senior.
TOUGH ENOUGH
The MIAA is 57-19 (.750) in non-conference action so far this season with a 45-18 (.714) record against Division II schools. In the Central Region, the Northern Sun is 51-29 (.638) overall and 31-28 (.525) against D-II competition while the Great American Conference is 15-22 (.405) overall and 11-22 (.333) against Division II opponents. The MIAA went 92-24 (.793) in non-conference action last year with a 73-23 (.760) record against NCAA Division II schools. The 92 wins were the most non-conference wins by any NCAA Division II league last year. The MIAA went 5-1 against outside competition during the NCAA Tournament last season.
HOME COOKIN'
The Lady Hornets have won 244 of the last 267 (.914) games at home. 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 394-91 (.812) overall since 1979 at home and hold the MIAA record for consecutive home wins with 62 set from 1997-2001. Their recent 23 game winning streak was the second longest in school history. Emporia State is 10-5 against top ten teams in White Auditorium, with a 5-4 record in top ten match ups.
BRING IT ON
The Lady Hornets are 71-46 (.607) against Top 25 teams since 1997-98. Emporia State is 26-10 (.722) at home against Top 25 teams since 1997. The Lady Hornets have 27 wins against Top 10 teams, including four against #1 teams in the last six seasons. Emporia State is 27-15 (.643) in neutral site games with top 25 foes since 1997.
RANKINGS
Emporia State is ranked #3 in this week's 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 244 weeks since first appearing in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have been in the top ten for 176 weeks. There are three MIAA teams in the WBCA Top 25 and a fourth receiving votes.
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
Emporia State won their first national championship in 2010, 12 years after making their first appearance in the national title game and have advanced to four Final Fours since 1998. The Lady Hornets are ranked #3 this week after opening the season #1 in the USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches Poll. This is the fourth 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 17-5 all-time when playing as the #1 team in the nation. This is the 19th straight year the Lady Hornets received votes in the preseason poll and it is the 14th time they have been ranked in the top 15 nationally. The Lady Hornets have 19 straight winning seasons, the 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 17 times in the last 19 years and their 36-16 record in the tourney is ranked fourth among active Division II schools in total wins. Emporia State has made six Elite Eight trips, the most of any team 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. .
MIAA TOURNEY EXCELLENCE
Emporia State has won the last three 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 five straight title games since 2011. They are the first team to be in five straight championship games since Missouri Western appeared in seven straight from 1997-2003. Emporia State is 37-13 all-time in MIAA Tournament play and the Lady Hornets are the only team to have streaks of three and four straight MIAA titles They have won nine straight conference tournament games.
NEWBIES
Kelly Moten became just the fourth freshman to earn All-Tournament honors at the 2014 MIAA Tournament. All four freshmen were Lady Hornets and Moten is the first to earn the honors coming off the bench. She joins Merissa Quick as the only two sophomores to earn Most Outstanding Player honors at the MIAA Tournament.
LADY HORNETS NCAA HISTORY
The Lady Hornets have made the NCAA Tournament for 17 times in the last 19 years and their 36-16 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 2015, and were also in the Elite Eight in 2000 and 2006. They have been to the regional final 12 times.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Lady Hornets have topped the 100-point barrier 67 times and have eclipsed the 110 point mark 27 times in their history. Since 1997-98, the Lady Hornets are 257-2 (.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 142-2 (.986) all-time when holding opponents to 50 points or less. The 109-39 win over Science & Arts was the 86th time in school history the Lady Hornets scored 80 or more and held their opponent to 50 or less and the 11th time they have scored 100 and held their opponent to under 40 points.
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 744 games. They led the nation in blocked shots and field goal percentage defense and were third in scoring defense last season. Emporia State led the nation field goal percentage defense last year, allowing teams to shoot just .329 from the field against them. The Lady Hornets 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 239 games. The Lady Hornets were second in the MIAA in average attendance last season at 2,110 and were ranked third in the nation. They were the best road and overall draw in the MIAA last season, averaging 1,972 in 13 road games and 1,941 in 34 total games last season. Emporia State's road average was better than 12 of the other 13 teams in the MIAA home average for attendance. 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 18 years.
NOT SUCH A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Emporia State's victory over Ft. Hays State means the host team for the NCAA Regional the Lady Hornets compete in has won the tournament only once in the last 11 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 three times with Washburn falling to Emporia State in 2006 in Lee Arena, West Texas A&M defeating Central Oklahoma in 2009 in Canyon, Texas and Ft. Hays State falling to Emporia State in 2014.
MARCH MEANS SOMETHING
The Lady Hornets are 23-6 (.793) in March post season games under Jory Collins. Emporia State has made it to the championship game of nine out of ten post season tournaments under Collins, appearing in five MIAA Tournament and four NCAA Regional Tournament Championship games, while making the semifinals at the Elite Eight last year. Emporia State is 73-29 (.716) all-time in MIAA and NCAA Tournament games.
LADY HORNET SUCCESS ON THE COURT...
The Lady Hornets have the best record in MIAA play in the 21st century. ESU is 233-68 (.774) in MIAA play since the 2000 season and 410-106 (.795) 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 265-69 (.793) in MIAA play and 473-110 (.811) overall. The Lady Hornets have been ranked in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll 176 times, the most of any NCAA Division II school. Emporia State has been to 17 NCAA Tournaments, made the Regional Championship or "Sweet 16" 12 times, has made six trips to the Elite Eight, four 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 seven 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 five straight MIAA Tournament Championships games, been to 12 of the last 18 MIAA Tournament Title Games and won seven 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 on national television five times in the last 14 years. They are 3-2 after their loss in the Final Four to eventual national champion California (PA) on the CBS Sports Network last year. They defeated Ft. Lewis 65-53 in the national championship game on ESPN2 in 2010. Emporia State'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 have made five straight appearances on the MIAA Network as part of the conference championship game.
END GAME
The Lady Hornets are 281-6 (.979) when leading at the 5:00 mark since the start of the 2004-05 season and are 448-12 (.974) since 1997 with a lead at the 5:00 mark.
STREAKS AND SUCH
•The Lady Hornets have hit a three pointer in 307 straight games dating back to a zero for 14 effort at Washburn on Feb. 15, 2006.
•The Lady Hornets have held their last 744 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 26 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 19 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 played in four straight regional championship games and have made it to the regional final in the last five NCAA Tournaments they have played in.
•The Lady Hornets have defeated the host team in their regional six times in the last 11 years (at Ft. Hays State 66-61 in 2015; at Washburn 65-58 in 2013; at Washburn 71-65 in 2012; at West Texas A&M 76-69 in 2010; at Washburn in 2006; and at Drury in 2005).
•The Lady Hornets have two six game winning streaks against nationally ranked teams in the last three seasons. They are the longest streaks 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 13 straight seasons, 18 times in the last 19 years and 23 times in the program's 38 year history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 25 games 11 times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 30 games four times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets are 835-371 (.692) overall in their 42nd year 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 17 MIAA MVPs, six of the last 13 Freshmen of the Year and won the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011-12.
