February 12, 2015-Trailing by 22 points with 16 minutes left, the #9 Lady Hornets roared back to force overtime but could not complete the comeback in a 58-56 loss to Northeastern State on Thursday night in White Auditorium. It is the first time Emporia State has lost back to back games since February 20 and 23 of 2013.
The Lady Hornets scored the first points of the game on a three-pointer from Kelly Moten only to see the RiverHawks go on a 10-0 run to take a seven point lead with 15:59 left in the half. Emporia State got another three from Moten and a jumper from Kyrstie Miller to pull within 10-8 with 14:00 left when Northeastern State started to pull away. Danielle Robertson scored with 27 second left to give the RiverHawks a 32-21 lead at the break after being held to just 36 points for the entire game when the two met in Tahlequah. Only three Lady Hornets scored in the first half with Moten netting nine, Merissa Quick eight and Miller four points.
Northeastern State would score the first 11 points of the second half to extend the lead to 22 points before Kelsey Barnwell finally got the Lady Hornets on the board with a three-pointer with 14:41 left in the game. Emporia State still trailed by 22 at 46-24 when they went on a 18-0 run of their own to pull within four 6:07 left. After getting points from just three people in the first half, five Lady Hornets scored during the 18-0 run.
A pair of free throw from Bria Pierce pushed the RiverHawk lead back to 51-42 coming out of the final media timeout with 4:54 left. It would be the last points of regulation for Northeastern State as Emporia State closed the second half on a 9-0 run. Moten had six of the points during the run, with Quick getting the other three. Quick hit one of two free throws with 1:40 left to tie the game at 51. Quick had two blocks in the final 1:14 to preserve the tie, but the Lady Hornets could not score as they went to overtime for the second time this season.
The RiverHawks scored first in the extra frame and led by three when Quick scored in the lane to cut the lead to 55-54. After another Quick block on the defensive end the Lady Hornets failed to score when Moten's jumper missed as the shot clock expired with 35 seconds left. Fontana Tate hit two free throws with 23.4 seconds left to push the lead to 57-54. Moten drove the lane to cut the lead to 57-56 with 18.0 seconds left. Tate hit the first of two free throws with :16.0 left to give NSU a 58-56 lead. Moten rebounded the miss on the second and went coast to coast but missed her layup with eight seconds left. Miller rebounded and missed a put back with three seconds left but Kate Bellamy travelled with :01.9 remaining. Quick was able to get a shot off at the buzzer that missed it's mark and the Lady Hornets fell 58-56.
Moten had a double-double with 19 points on six of 20 shooting and ten rebounds. Quick was six of nine from the field for 17 points with nine rebounds and eight blocks. Miller added nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Lady Hornets are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they play host to Central Oklahoma in their annual Pink Game. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. and fans can wearing pink can purchase a ticket for $5 at the door.
NOTES
Quick passed Judy Becker (1,388 pts from 1977-81) for 12th on the Lady Hornet career scoring list and now has 1,397 points.
Quick tied her career high with eight blocked shots and her 80 blocks this year rank fifth on the Lady Hornet single season list.
