#20 LADY HORNETS TAKE ON #16 PITTSBURG STATE IN MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Game #31
#20 Emporia State Lady Hornets (25-5, 17-5 MIAA)
vs. #16 Pittsburg State Gorillas (26-4, 18-4 MIAA)
Series Record: ESU leads 55-27  Last Meeting: PSU 74, at ESU 66 (Feb. 6, 2016)
Saturday, March 6, 2016 • 1:00 p.m. • Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium (9,987)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (12:40 p.m.) Internet Audio: kvoe.com
Television: MIAA Network Internet Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/esu/
Live Stats • Complete Notes in pdf • ESU MIAA Tournament Media Guide in pdf
Up Next: NCAA Central Regional First Round • March 11, 2016 • 1:00 p.m. • TBA • TBA

MARCH IS DIFFERENT   
The #20 Lady Hornets take on #16 Pittsburg State in the MIAA Tournament Championship Game. It is the fourth MIAA tourney meeting between the two and the first in the title game.  

LAST TIME OUT
The #20 Emporia State Lady Hornets put four players in double figures on the way to an 85-74 win over #7 Missouri Western on Saturday in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals. The Lady Hornets never trailed in a game that saw a total of 51 fouls called including three technicals. Kelly Moten led all scorers with 23 points on seven of 11 shooting with five rebounds and four assists.  Sandra Ngoie and Kathryn Flott each scored 16 points with flott grabbing ten rebounds.  Addie Lackey was the other Lady Hornet in double figures with 14 points.  As a team Emporia State shot .546 from the field and converted 34 of 41 free throws while outrebounding Western 32-22 on the glass. The Griffons shot .467 from the field while making 13 of 16 from the stripe.

THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 150-41 in his sixth year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He has 26 career wins against Top 25 teams with 20 wins in the last 27 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 six 20 win seasons in his first six years as head coach. He is 15-2 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 7-8 against Pittsburg State.
Lane Lord is 180-87 in his ninth year at Pittsburg State and is 5-7 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 10-11 against Emporia State.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 25-5 on the season, 17-5 in the MIAA, and ranked #20 in the WBCA Top 25. The Lady Hornets lead the MIAA in rebounds, rebound margin, scoring defense, and made three-pointers. Kelly Moten is the leading scorer at 16.3 points per game. She is joined in double figures by Sandra Ngoie at 12.8 points, Kelsey Barnwell and Kathryn Flott at 10.2 points while Flott pulls down 8.7 rebounds per game.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 26-4 on the season, 18-4 in the MIAA and have won 16 straight games.  They are led by Mikaela Burgess at 18.0 points per game. They hit an MIAA record 16 three-pointers in their semifinal win over Ft. Hays State.

THE SERIES    
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 55-27 and have won seven of the last nine games in the series. They split the regular season series this year while the Lady Hornets have won all three previous meetings in the MIAA Tournament.

LAST TIME VS. PITTSBURG STATE
The #16 Lady Hornets fell to Pittsburg State 74-66 in White Auditorium. Emporia State took an early 17-4 lead early but the Gorillas went on a 15-0 run in the third quarter and outscored the Lady Hornets 20-10 in the period to take a lead 51-50 into the fourth. Kelly Moten had 22 points on nine for 14 shooting. Kathryn Flott had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

UP NEXT
The winner will receive the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament with the loser likely getting an at large bid.

ROAD WARRIORS
Emporia State is 245-89 (.734) away from home, 87-26 (.770) 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 43-35 (.551) away from White Auditorium against Top 25 teams. The Lady Hornets are 126-48 (.724) on the road in MIAA league play since 1997-98. Emporia State is 33-13 (.717) in NCAA Tournament games away from White Auditorium.

MIAA TOURNEY EXCELLENCE
Emporia State has won the last three MIAA Tournament Championships and 11 straight games in tournament play. They 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 six straight title games since 2011. They are the first team to be in six straight championship games since Missouri Western appeared in seven straight from 1997-2003. Emporia State is 39-13 all-time in MIAA Tournament play and the Lady Hornets are the only team to have streaks of three and four straight MIAA titles

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY
Kelly Moten (Jr./Gary, Ind.) was a first-team All-MIAA selection and member of the All-Defensive Team. She is second in the MIAA in assists, fourth in assist to turnover ratio, fifth in free throw percentage, seventh in scoring and blocked shots, eighth in field goal percentage and steals, and 14th in defensive rebounds. She had 23 points on seven of 11 shooting against Missouri Western in the MIAA Semifinals. She had 13 points and seven rebounds against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Quarterfinals. She was named MIAA Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 23.5 points in the final two games of the regular season. She had 22 points, six assists, five steals, four rebounds and three blocks against Washburn. She scored 25 points with eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks at Northwest Missouri. She had 11 points and six assists against Central Oklahoma. She scored ten points with six assists and five steals at Lincoln. She had 21 points and six rebounds against Southwest Baptist. She scored 22 points on nine of 14 shooting against Pittsburg State in 24 minutes. She had 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals against Missouri Southern. She had 23 points and six rebounds at Central Missouri. She had eight points and six rebounds at Southwest Baptist. She dished seven assists, had seven points, five rebounds, two steals and a block at Washburn. She had 12 points, six assists and three blocks against Missouri Western. She had 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals against Northwest Missouri. She earned MIAA Player of the Week honors after averaging 20.7 points, 6.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.3 blocks against Lindenwood, Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State. She had 18 points with seven assists, four blocks, four rebounds and two steals at Northeastern State. She scored 16 points with six assists, six rebounds, four steals and a block at Central Oklahoma. She had 28 points, six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and a a steal against Lindenwood. She scored 17 points with a career high nine assists against Lincoln. She had 20 points, six assists and five rebounds at Pitt State. 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.  She had 17 points with six assists against Hawai'i Hilo. She had 18 points against Cameron. She scored 25 points 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.
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 and finished with 16 points against West Texas in the Elite Eight. 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 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 1,257 points in 98 career games and is the 14th Lady Hornet to score 1,000 in three years or less. She needs 48 points to tie Jurgita Kausaite (1,305 from 1997-99) for 17th on the Lady Hornets all-time scoring list.

SWEDISH CHEF
Sandra Ngoie (Sr./Stockholm, Sweden) was a Third-Team All-MIAA pick. She is seventh in the MIAA in defensive rebounds, eighth in made three-pointers and tenth in rebounding. She scored 16 points on six of 11 shooting against Missouri Western in the MIAA Semifinals. She had 15 points with three three-pointers and eight rebounds against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Quarterfinals. She scored 12 points against Washburn. She had 18 points and eight rebounds at Northwest Missouri. She had ten points and three steals against Central Oklahoma. She was eight of ten from the field and scored 19 points at Lincoln. She scored 23 points at Southwest Baptist. She had 19 points and 11 rebounds against Northwest Missouri. She was seven of 12 from the three-point line for 21 points and added 12 rebounds at Northeastern State. She had a career high 24 points against Lindenwood, going five of six from the three-point line. She had 22 points and ten boards at Pitt State. She scored 18 points with ten rebounds against Central Missouri. She had 15 points and five rebounds at Ft. Hays State. She had 18 points and ten rebounds against Hawai'i Pacific. She scored ten points, pulled eight rebounds and had three blocks at Kansas.
She averaged 11.2 points and 5.0 rebounds over two years with George Mason and was ranked seventh in Patriots history with 131 made three-pointers. She had 29 points against VCU in 2015 and Richmond in 2014, hitting seven three-pointers against VCU. She played one year at Georgia Tech before playing the last two years at Mason.

FLOTTASTIC
Kathryn Flott (Jr./Olpe, Kan.) is on the All-MIAA Third-Team and the All-Defensive Team. She leads the MIAA in offensive rebounding, is third in overall rebounding and fifth in defensive rebounding. She scored 16 points with ten rebounds against Missouri Western in the MIAA Semifinals. She had 15 points and 12 rebounds against Central Oklahoma. She was seven of eight from the field for 16 points and had eight rebounds at Lincoln. She had ten points, going four of four from the field against Southwest Baptist. She had 13 points and 13 boards against Pittsburg State. She scored 16 points on seven of nine shooting with nine rebounds against Missouri Southern. She had 13 rebounds at Central Missouri. She scored 14 points and had 15 rebounds at Washburn. She had 14 points and 12 boards against Missouri Western. She led Emporia State with 17 points and ten rebounds at Central Oklahoma. She scored 12 points with five rebounds at Pitt State. She had 13 points and five rebounds at Missouri Southern. She pulled 13 boards against Central Missouri. She had 11 rebounds against Hawai'i Pacific. She had 15 rebounds against Cameron. She had 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 three blocked shots against Missouri Western in the MIAA quarterfinals. She had 12 points and 14 rebounds against Pittsburg State. She scored 13 points with three three-pointers at Washburn.  
She had a career high 21 points against Pittsburg State in the 2012 NCAA Central Regional Championship game in Lee Arena.  She missed two years with different knee injuries.
She was a part of the NCAA D2 USA Select team that toured Brazil last summer. In her career she is eight of 57 (.140) from the three-point line prior in the first 17 games of a season and is 37 of 98 (.378) from beyond the arc from the 18th game on.

FROM KANSAS TO KANSAS CITY TO EMPORIA
Kelsey Barnwell (Sr./Kansas, Okla.) earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA honors. She is 12th in the MIAA in made three-pointers. She was six of six from the free throw line and had six points against Missouri Western in the MIAA semifinals. She scored 12 points at Lincoln. She had 14 points and six rebounds against Pittsburg State. She scored 14 points against Missouri Southern. She had a career high six rebounds at Central Missouri. She scored 14 points on five of six shooting against Missouri Western. She had 13 points and a career high five assists at Northeastern State. She had 18 points with four made three-pointers against Central Missouri. She scored 21 points with three assists and three steals against Hawai'i Hilo. 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 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 last year. She was four of five from behind the three-point line at Southern Arkansas.
She played in 26 games with 14 starts at UMKC, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds.

LEGACY
Addie Lackey (So./Hillsboro, Kan.) had 14 points and four assists against Missouri Western in the MIAA Semifinals. She scored ten points against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Quarterfinals. She scored 13 points against Washburn. She had 12 points with four rebounds and three assists against Northeastern State. She hit three of five three-pointers and finished with 11 points against Central Oklahoma. She had eight points and four assists against Pitt State. SShe scored 12 points at Southwest Baptist. She had 18 points to go with three assists against Northwest Missouri. She scored 14 points with four assists at Central Oklahoma. She had a career high four blocked shots against Lindenwood. She scored 16 points and hit four of six three-pointers against Lincoln. She had nine points on three of five shooting at Pittsburg State. She scored 13 points at Missouri Southern. She had 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 dished a career high 12 assists against Science & Arts. 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 against the Wildcats.
Her 318 points are seventh and her 99 assists were 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.

MILLER'S CROSSING
Kyrstie Miller (So./Holton, Kan.) is 13th in the MIAA in blocked shots. She had ten points and eight rebounds against Washburn. She scored ten points with three steals against Northeastern State. She had 11 points on four of four shooting with three three-pointers, five rebounds and three steals at Southwest Baptist. She scored ten points with eight rebounds against Northwest Missouri. She had seven points, seven boards and four steals at Northeastern State. She had six rebounds at Central Oklahoma. She had 11 points on five of seven shooting and seven boards against Lincoln. She had six rebounds at Missouri Southern. 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 three-pointers 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 scored 11 points with eight rebounds and four steals in her first start at Central Missouri. She scored 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 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.  

HOLLOWAY WITH THE FALL AWAY
Megan Holloway (Jr./Salina, Kan.) scored ten points with two three-pointers against Washburn. She led Emporia State with a career high 13 points on four of four shooting from the field and free throw line against Northeastern State. She scored seven points and was perfect from the field and free throw line against Southwest Baptist. She hit three of four free throws against Missouri Southern. She had five rebounds and scored four points at Southwest Baptist. She scored five points with five rebounds, with four on the offensive glass, against Missouri Western. She had a career high four assists against Lindenwood. She scored a season high ten points against Lincoln. She 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 Okla. Baptist. She had four points and three rebounds at Kansas.
She scored six points on three of five shooting against Pittsburg State in the 2015 MIAA Tournament semifinals. She had a career high seven rebounds against Missouri Western in the MIAA quarterfinals. She scored 11 points on five of eight shooting against Lincoln. She scored ten points against Henderson State.
She scored 11 points in her Lady Hornet regular season debut against Indianapolis in 2013.

KRAMER!
Jacee Kramer (So./Winchester, Kan.) scored 11 points with five rebounds against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Quarterfinals. She had ten points and three assists against Washburn. She scored eight points and was two of two from behind the arc against Northeastern State. She was three of three from the field and scored ten points at Lincoln. She scored 13 points with six rebounds and four assists against Southwest Baptist. She had six points and three rebounds at Central Missouri. She had two steals and hit a three-pointer at the half-time buzzer to cap a 10-0 run at Southwest Baptist. She scored six points against Northwest Missouri. She had an assist in six minutes at Central Oklahoma after missing three of the previous four games with a leg injury. She 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 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 MIAA semifinals. She was six of six from the free throw line against Missouri Western in the MIAA 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 for the Jefferson County North HS and was a first-team All-Class by KansasSports.com as a senior. She earned first-team All-Class 2A honors and led JCNHS to the state championship game three times.  
 
BLOSSOMING
Tiana Moala (Fr./Paola, Kan.) pulled two rebounds against Northeastern State. She scored four points with a block and a steal against Missouri Southern. She had two points, two rebounds and a blocked shot at Northeastern State. She scored two points with two rebounds against Lindenwood. She 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 as a junior. She led the Panthers to the state tournament each of the last three years.

BAKER'S DOZEN
Shelby Baker (Spring Hill, Kan.) had six points and three rebounds against Northeastern State. She grabbed three rebounds in five minutes against Central Oklahoma. She had six points and four rebounds at Lincoln. She scored six points and had five rebounds against Northwest Missouri. She had six boards at Northeastern State. She scored eight points with three rebounds in four minutes against Lincoln. She scored five points with four rebounds in three minutes at Pittsburg State. She 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 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.

BACK FROM THE GRAVE
Tatum Graves (Fr./Shawnee, Kan.) injured an ankle against Northeastern State and is probable for the MIAA Tournament. She scored two points with two rebounds and two blocks at Lincoln. She had two rebounds at Washburn. She went three of four from the free throw line for three points against Northwest Missouri. She had three points and two rebounds against Lincoln. She made her debut on the basketball court against Science & Arts just four days after wrapping up the volleyball season. She is in her first year with the Lady Hornets and is also a member of the Emporia State volleyball team. 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 and earned All-Sunflower League honors in both basketball and volleyball.
 
SAY IT LOUD
Maria Moylan (Fr./St. Marys, Kan.) is in her first year with the Lady Hornets. She hit a three-poitner against Washburn. She scored three points in three minutes at Lincoln. She scored her first points on a three-pointer against Lincoln. She had two assists against Science & 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 63-20 (.759) in non-conference action so far this season with a 49-19 (.721) record against Division II schools. In the Central Region, the Northern Sun is 54-29 (.651) overall and 31-28 (.525) against D-II competition while the Great American Conference is 26-33 (.441) overall and 15-33 (.313) against Division II opponents. The MIAA is 15-6 against the NSIC and 15-1 against the GAC this year. 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 252 of the last 277 (.910) 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 402-93 (.812) overall since 1979 at home and hold the MIAA record for consecutive home wins with 62 set from 1997-2001. Emporia State is 10-6 against top ten teams in White Auditorium.

SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
The Lady Hornets are ranked #20 in this week's USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches Poll, the 253rd week for Emporia State in the national rankings.  The Lady Hornets have won 20 games in 14 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the nation and their streak of 20 straight winning seasons is 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 tournament wins. 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 opened 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 won seven MIAA regular season championships and seven MIAA Tournament 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 NCAA Division II schools in total tournament wins. Emporia State has made six Elite Eight trips, the most of any team since 1997.
 
BRING IT ON    
The Lady Hornets are 72-47 (.605) against Top 25 teams since 1997-98.  Emporia State is 26-11 (.703) at home against Top 25 teams since 1997. The Lady Hornets have 28 wins against Top 10 teams, including four against #1 teams in the last six seasons. Emporia State is 28-15 (.651) in neutral site games with top 25 foes since 1997.  

RANKINGS
Emporia State is ranked #20 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 253 weeks since first appearing in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have been in the top ten for 178 weeks. There are four MIAA teams in the WBCA Top 20 this week.

BY THE NUMBERS
The Lady Hornets have topped the 100-point barrier 68 times and have eclipsed the 110 point mark 27 times in their history. Since 1997-98, the Lady Hornets are 266-2 (.993) 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 145-2 (.986) all-time when holding opponents to 50 points or less. The 99-45 win over Lincoln was the 87th time in school history the Lady Hornets scored 80 or more and held their opponent to 50 or less and the 109-39 win over Science & Arts was 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 765 games. They led the nation in blocked shots and field goal percentage defense and were third in scoring defense last season, 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.  

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. .

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.

MARCH MEANS SOMETHING
The Lady Hornets are 25-6 (.806) in March post season games under Jory Collins. Emporia State has made it to the championship game of ten out of 11 post season tournaments under Collins, appearing in six MIAA Tournament and four NCAA Regional Tournament Championship games, while making the semifinals at the Elite Eight last year. Emporia State is 75-29 (.721) all-time in MIAA and NCAA Tournament games.

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.

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 249 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 last year 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.

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 six straight appearances on the MIAA Network as part of the conference championship game.

 LADY HORNET SUCCESS ON THE COURT...
The Lady Hornets have the best record in MIAA play in the 21st century. Emporia State is 248-72 (.775) in MIAA play since the 2000 season and 427-110 (.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 280-73 (.793) in MIAA play and 490-114 (.811) overall. The Lady Hornets have been ranked in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll 178 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 six straight MIAA Tournament Championships games, been to 13 of the last 19 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.

END GAME
The Lady Hornets are 298-6 (.980) when leading at the 5:00 mark since the start of the 2004-05 season and are 465-12 (.975) since 1997 with a lead at the 5:00 mark.  

STREAKS AND SUCH
•The Lady Hornets have hit a three pointer in 328 straight games dating back to a zero for 14 effort at Washburn on Feb. 15, 2006.
•The Lady Hornets have held their last 765 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 20 straight seasons.
•The Lady Hornets have won at least 20 games in 14 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in MIAA history and the longest active streak in the nation.
•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 14 straight seasons, 19 times in the last 20 years and 24 times in the program's 38 year history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 25 games 12 times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 30 games four times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets are 852-375 (.694) 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 18 MIAA MVPs, six of the last 14 Freshmen of the Year and won the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011-12.