Game #20
#6 Emporia State Lady Hornets (17-2, 10-2 MIAA)
vs. Washburn Ichabods (14-6, 6-6 MIAA)
Series Record: ESU leads 49-44 Last Meeting: at ESU 70, WU 53 (Feb. 22, 2014)
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 • 5:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium (5,000)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (5:10 p.m.) Internet Audio:
kvoe.comTelevision: None Internet Video:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/esuLive Stats Complete Release in pdfUp Next: at #6 Ft. Hays State • Feb. 7, 2015 • 2:00 p.m. • Hays, Kan. • Gross Coliseum (6,378)
TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The #6 Lady Hornets take on Washburn in White Auditorium to wrap up a three game home stand. It is the most played rivalry for Emporia State as the Lady Hornets have won 49 of the 93 previous meetings.
LAST TIME OUT
Kelly Moten scored 19 points to lead four Lady Hornets in double figures as #2 Emporia State defeated Neb.-Kearney 80-49 on Super Bowl Sunday in White Auditorium. The Lady Hornets jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first 3:17 and never trailed in the contest. The Lopers closed to within 23-19 with 9:53 left in the half when Emporia State went on a 17-0 run to take control of the game. Emporia State had a 48-25 lead at the break and started the second half with an 8-2 run to go up 56-27 with 17:16 left in the game. The lead dropped to 20 points with 10:35 left when the Lady Hornets held the Lopers to just one field goal over the next 8:24 to take a 75-44 lead on a Whitney Gordon put back. Moten had five assists to go with her 19 points. She was joined in double figures by Addie Lackey with 15 points and ten each from Jacee Kramer and Kelsey Barnwell.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 113-33 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 8-5 against Washburn.
Ron McHenry is 372-88 in his 15th year at Washburn. He is 24-17 against Emporia State, 5-8 against Collins.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 17-2, 10-2 in the MIAA and ranked #6 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 ICHABODS
Washburn is 14-6, 6-6 in the MIAA. They started the season 7-0 and were ranked as high as #8 in the nation. Taylor Ignoto is their leading scorer at 14.2 points per game.
THE SERIES
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 49-44. This is the 36th straight game that at least one team has been nationally ranked. They are the last two MIAA teams to win national championships, with Washburn taking the 2005 title and Emporia State winning in 2010.
LAST TIME VS. WASHBURN
The #7 Lady Hornets shot 50.2% from the field on the way to a 70-53 win over Washburn on Senior Night at White Auditorium. The Lady Hornets jumped out to an 8-2 lead and never trailed in the contest as they defeated the Ichabods for the fifth straight time. Merissa Quick led Emporia State with 13 points and 11 rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Kionna Kellogg with 13 points and Laura Patrick with 11 points with three made three-pointers. Rheanna Egli scored eight points and dished eight assists.
UP NEXT
The #6 Lady Hornets travel to Hays, Kan. for a rematch with #3 Ft. Hays State on Saturday. Tip-off from Gross Coliseum is set for 2:00 p.m.
HOME COOKIN'
The Lady Hornets have won 238 of the last 260 (.915) 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 388-90 (.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.
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 #6 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 233 weeks since first appearing in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have been in the top ten for 167 weeks. There are three MIAA teams in the WBCA Top 10 and two more receiving votes. In other polls, the Lady Hornets are ranked #2 in the Bennett Basketball Rankings, and are #3 in the Massey Ratings.
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 and she now has 266 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 117 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 266 and ranked third in single season blocked shots at Emporia State with 87 last season. She has 1,360 points and is tied with Alli Volkens for 14th on the Lady Hornet all-time list. She has 819 rebounds to rank seventh 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 360 in 521 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 seventh in conference only games at 15.4 points per game. She had 19 points against Neb.-Kearney on eight of 12 shooting. 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 leading the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage in conference games only. She is the only freshman in the league ranked in the top 15 of at least five statistical categories. She was six of nine from the field and scored 15 points against Neb.-Kearney. 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 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 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. 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 7.8 points and 8.0 rebounds over the last four games. She had seven points off the bench against Neb.-Kearney. 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 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.) had ten points and four assists against Neb.-Kearney. She 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 was a three-time All-State selection for Kansas (Okla.) HS by the Tulsa World and the Daily Oklahoman, twice earning first-team honors.
A BURNER NAMED BRUNER
Ashton Bruner (Jr./McPherson, Kan.) scored six points with four rebounds and three steals against Neb.-Kearney. 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.
NOTHING GOOD COMES EASILY
Amber Vandiver (Sr./Westminster, Colo.) missed the last two games with a concussion and is questionable for Washburn. She 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 and assists and fourth in blocks and made three-pointers while averaging just 17.1 minutes per game. She had four rebounds, three assists and three steals against Neb.-Kearney. 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. She scored 1,060 points and had 440 steals in 100 career varsity games.
KRAMER!
Jacee Kramer (Fr./Winchester, Kan.) scored ten points with two assists and two steals against Neb.-Kearney. She 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.
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.
ALWAYS BE THERE
Whitney Gordon (Jr./Marion, Kan.) is averaging 3.3 rebounds per game in MIAA action, grabbing a team best 19.1% of the available rebounds while she is on the floor in conference action. She had three rebounds and a block in five minutes against Neb.-Kearney. 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.
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 #6 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 252-2 (.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 138-2 (.986) all-time when holding opponents to 50 points or less. The 80-49 win over Neb.-Kearney was the 84th time in school history the Lady Hornets scored 80 or more and held their opponent to 50 or less in the same game.
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 720 games. They are leading the nation in blocked shots, field goal percentage defense and rebound margin, and are ranked second in 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 232 games. The Lady Hornets are leading the MIAA in average attendance this season at 1,927 through nine games. They are the best road and overall draw in the MIAA as well this season, averaging 1,242 in nine road games and 1,511 in 19 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 8.5 per game, field goal percentage defense at 31.5% and rebounding margin at +13.8 rebounds per game, are ranked second in scoring defense at 52.8 points per game, third in scoring margin at +22.5 points per game, 11th in three-point field goal percentage at 38.4%, 12th in defensive rebounds per game at 31.0 per game, and are 24th in field goal percentage at 44.7%. Emporia State is also ranked 32nd in scoring offense at 75.3 points per game and 39th in three point field goal percentage defense at 27.6%.
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 226-65 (.777) in MIAA play since the 2000 season and 390-102 (.793) 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 258-66 (.796) in MIAA play and 453-106 (.810) overall. The Lady Hornets have been ranked in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll 167 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 261-6 (.978) when leading at the 5:00 mark since the start of the 2004-05 season and are 428-12 (.973) since 1997 with a lead at the 5:00 mark.
STREAKS AND SUCH
•The Lady Hornets have hit a three pointer in 283 straight games dating back to a zero for 14 effort at Washburn on Feb. 15, 2006.
•The Lady Hornets have held their last 720 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 815-367 (.690) 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.
