March 6, 2015-The tenth ranked Lady Hornets used a 20-2 run to take control in a 77-60 win over Missouri Western in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City. It is the seventh straight win in the MIAA Tournament for Emporia State dating back to the 2012 Championship game.
The Lady Hornets jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Griffons answered with a 12-2 run to take a 12-8 lead with 13:31 left in the half. Missouri Western led 18-13 with 10:36 left when Emporia State went on a 14-0 run to take a 27-18 lead with 6:18 remaining. The Griffons would pull to within a 29-29 tie with 1:37 left. The Lady Hornets got a three pointer from Kelsey Barnwell with eight seconds left to take a 32-29 lead into the half.
Barnwell's three was the start of the decisive 20-2 run as Emporia State would score the first six points of the second half. After a LaQuinta Jefferson layup with 17:10 left the Lady Hornets used an 11-0 run to take their biggest lead to that point at 49-31 with 13:43 left.
When the two played earlier this year in St. Joseph Emporia State led by 16 with 10:48 before before losing by one point. On Friday the Lady Hornet led by 15 when the Griffons went to the line with 10:39 left in the game. They would close within nine at 58-49 when Barnwell hit a three-pointer to put the lead back to double digits. The Lady Hornets would hit eight of ten free throws in the final 1:53 to ice the lead.
Emporia State shot 56.8% from the field, their best effort since a shooting 56.9% against Lincoln on January 3. Merissa Quick had 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks to lead four Lady Hornets in double figures. Kelly Moten had 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals while Kelsey Barnwell and Kathryn Flott both added 12 points. Megan Holloway had a career high seven rebounds as well for the Lady Hornets.
Emporia State will play the winner of the game between Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State on Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. in the tournament semifinals. At halftime of that game the 2010 NCAA Champion Lady Hornets will be inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame.
NOTES
Quick's 17 points give her 1,467 in her career and move her into ninth in all-time scoring at Emporia State.
Quick has now scored 150 points in MIAA Tournament play to move into seventh on the career scoring list in MIAA history.
The Lady Hornets are now 35-13 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and 18-2 in the quarterfinals.
