#7 LADY HORNETS TAKE ON #19 CENTRAL MISSOURI IN ANOTHER TOP 25 MATCH UP

Game #19
#7 Emporia State Lady Hornets (16-2, 7-2 MIAA)
at #19 Central Missouri Jennies (15-2, 8-1 MIAA)
Series Record: ESU leads 40-33 Last Meeting: at UCM 69, #11 ESU 64 (Jan. 30, 2016)
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 • 5:30 p.m. • Warrensburg, Mo. • UCM Multipurpose Bldg. (6,400)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (5:10 p.m.) Internet Desk Top Audio: kvoe.com
Mobile Audio: (Apple App Store) (Google Play)
Television: None Internet Video: portal.stretchinternet.com/esu
Live Stats  Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Southwest Baptist • Jan. 28, 2017 • 1:30 p.m. • Bolivar, Mo. • Meyers Center/Hammons Court (2,925)
 
ANOTHER BIG TIME MATCHUP  
The #9 Lady Hornets travel to #19 Central Missouri in the fifth Top 25 match-up so far this season for Emporia State. The Lady Hornets have won seven of the eight previous Top 25 matchups between the two schools.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The 9th ranked Lady Hornets overcame a six point halftime deficit to post a 74-65 win over Missouri Southern on Sunday afternoon in White Auditorium. 
The Lions jumped out to a 7-2 lead and were ahead 19-10 with 1:17 left in the first quarter.   Emporia State used a 14-2 run that spanned the end of the first quarter into the second to take a 24-21 lead.  Missouri Southern used an 8-2 run to end the half to take a 40-34 lead into the break.  The Lady Hornets held the Lions to just two points over the final 6:22 of the third quarter to take the lead for good.
Kelly Moten had 25 points, six rebounds and five assists and was joined in double figures by Kyrstie Miller with 11 while Kathryn Flott added nine points and ten rebounds.
 
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 169-44 in his seventh year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He has 31 career wins against Top 25 teams with 25 wins in the last 34 match-ups. This is his 16th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and Emporia State has advanced to the NCAA tournament in 14 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 7-4 against Central Missouri.
Dave Slifer is 242-131 in his 13th year at UCM and 626-230 in his 27th season overall. He is 20-38 all-time against ESU, 10-19 at both Central Mo. and Mo. Western.
 
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 16-2, 7-2 in the MIAA and ranked #9 in the WBCA NCAA Division II National Poll. The Lady Hornets are leading the MIAA in scoring, scoring defense, scoring margin, rebounds, rebound margin, blocked shots and assists. Kelly Moten is averaging 18.7 points per game to rank second in the MIAA and is in the top ten in the league in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, assists, assist to turnover ratio, blocks, and steals.
 
ABOUT THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 15-2 overall, 8-1 in the MIAA and #19 in the WBCA Poll. In MIAA games only, they lead the league in scoring defense and are second in field goal percentage defense. Paige Redmond averages 15.8 points per game to rank fifth in the league.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Hornets lead the series 40-33 with an 11-2 advantage in the post season. The home team has won eight straight in the series since Emporia State's 63-58 win in 2010-11 in Warrensburg.
 
LAST TIME VS. CENTRAL MISSOURI
The #11 Lady Hornets scored the first two points then gave up a 13-0 run by Central Missouri in a 69-64 loss in Warrensburg, Mo. Kelly Moten gave Emporia State a 2-0 lead on the opening possession of the game before the Jennies went on a 13-0 run to take the lead for good. Addie Lackey hit a jumper to break the run at the 5:21 mark and the Lady Hornets would out-score the Jennies 62-56 in the final 35 minutes. Moten led all scorers with 23 points and was joined in double figures by Lackey with ten points.  Kathryn Flott had eight points and 13 rebounds. 
 
UP NEXT
The #9 Lady Hornets will travel to Bolivar, Mo. on Saturday to play Southwest Baptist at 1:30 p.m.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
Emporia State is 253-92 (.733) away from home, 91-26 (.778) in neutral site games and 55-13 (.809) 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 46-37 (.554) away from White Auditorium against Top 25 teams. The Lady Hornets are 129-50 (.721) on the road in MIAA league play since 1997-98. Emporia State is 35-14 (.714) in NCAA Tournament games away from White Auditorium.
 
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
The Lady Hornets have guaranteed a winning record for the 21st straight season, the longest active streak in the MIAA and they have received votes in 20 straight WBCA Preseason Polls. They have made the NCAA Tournament 18 times in the last 20 years and their 38-17 record in the tourney is ranked fourth among active Division II schools in total wins.
 
I BELIEVE I CAN FLY
Guard Kelly Moten (Sr./Gary, Ind.) is ranked second in the MIAA in scoring and assists, fourth in steals, sixth in assist to turnover ratio, seventh in blocked shots, eighth in free throw percentage and tenth in field goal percentage. She earned her fourth MIAA Player of the Week award after she had 25 points, six rebounds and five assists against Missouri Southern. She scored 28 points with four assists and tied her career high with four made three-pointers against Pittsburg State. She had 16 points and four assists at Northeastern State. She scored 19 points at Central Oklahoma. She had 18 points, a career high seven steals, four assists, three rebounds and two blocks against Washburn. She was MIAA Player of the Week after scoring 27 points with seven assists, four steals and four rebounds at Pittsburg State. She was named MIAA Player of the Week after recording 25 points, four rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals against Lindenwood after getting 17 points and five assists against Lincoln. She scored nine points with four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals at Ft. Hays State. She was named MIAA Player of the Week after averaging 24.5 points against Lubbock Christian and Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had 18 points and nine rebounds against Lubbock Christian. She tied her career high with 31 points against Ark.-Ft. Smith and added seven assists, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals. She was the MVP of the Drury Thanksgiving Classic after she scored 21 points with ten rebounds, five assists and four steals in the championship game against Drury. She had 17 points with seven rebounds and five assists against Truman. She scored 18 points with nine assists against Tabor. She had 19 points with six rebounds, three assists and three steals against Oklahoma Baptist. She had 13 points, eight assists and five steals at Baylor in exhibition play.
Moten was an honorable mention D2CCA/CoSIDA All-American, first-team All-MIAA selection, a member of the All-Defensive Team, and was on the All-Tournament team at the MIAA Tournament. She led the MIAA in assists, was third in assist to turnover ratio, fifth in free throw percentage, eighth in scoring, steals and blocked shots, and tenth in field goal percentage last season.
She scored 25 points with six assists in the regional championship game against Pittsburg State. She had a career high ten assists against Winona State. She had 16 points and six assists against Northern State in the first round of the regional. She scored 17 points with six assists and three steals against Pittsburg State in the MIAA Championship Game. She had 23 points on seven of 11 shooting against Missouri Western in the MIAA Semifinals. She had 22 points, six assists, five steals, four rebounds and three blocks against Washburn. She scored 25 points with eight rebounds and four assists, at Northwest Missouri. She had 21 points and six rebounds against Southwest Baptist. She scored 22 points on nine of 14 shooting against Pittsburg State. She had 23 points and six rebounds at Central Missouri. 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 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 had 20 points, six assists and five rebounds at Pitt State. She had 31 points with seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal at Neb.-Kearney.  She scored 25 points with six rebounds against Oklahoma Baptist. 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 in 2015. She had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists against Cal (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 19 points and ten rebounds against Northeastern State. She had 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 1,662 points in 120 career games and is sixth on the Lady Hornets all-time scoring list, is fourth in career steals, is seventh in assists, ninth in made free throws, and tenth in blocked shots.
 
FLOTTASTIC
Forward Kathryn Flott (Sr./Olpe, Kan.) is leading the MIAA in rebounding, is third in offensive rebounding and fifth in defensive rebounding in conference games only. She extended her streak of consecutive double figure rebound games to six with ten boards and nine points against Missouri Southern. She had her fourth double-double with ten points and 11 rebounds against Pittsburg State. She was named MIAA Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in Oklahoma. She had 19 points and 14 rebounds at Northeastern State. She scored ten points with 13 rebounds at Central Oklahoma. She had ten rebounds against Washburn. She scored 19 points with 15 rebounds against Pittsburg State in her first start after missing eight games with a wrist injury. She had four rebounds and scored three points at Baylor.
She is in her sixth year at Emporia State after suffering knee injuries that cost her two years. She was the Most Outstanding Player at the MIAA Tourney and was Third-Team All-MIAA and the MIAA All-Defensive. She led the MIAA in offensive rebounding, was second in rebounding and fourth in defensive rebounding last season.
She scored ten points with nine rebounds against Pittsburg State in the Regional championship game. She was three of four from the field for seven points and had ten rebounds against Winona State in the regional semifinals. She had 17 points with 13 rebounds against Pittsburg State in the MIAA Championship Game. She had 14 boards against Northern State in the NCAA Tournament. 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 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 pulled 13 boards against Central Missouri in White Auditorium. She had 15 rebounds against Cameron. She had 14 rebounds at Southwestern Oklahoma.
As a sophomore she pulled 11 rebounds against California (PA) in the 2015 Final Four. She had 12 points and 13 rebounds against West Texas in the Elite Eight that year. She had 13 points and ten rebounds with two blocked shots at 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 blocks 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.
Before missing two years with knee injuries, she had a career high 21 points as a freshman against Pittsburg State in the 2012 NCAA Central Regional Championship game. 
She has 742 career rebounds and needs nine more to tie Esmary Vargas-Sanchez (751 from 2002-05) for tenth on the Lady Hornets all-time list. She was a part of the NCAA D2 USA Select team that toured Brazil in the summer of 2015. In her career she is ten of 68 (.147) from the three-point line in the first 17 games of a season and is 38 of 99 (.384) from beyond the arc from the 18th game on.
 
LEGACY
Guard Addie Lackey (Jr./Hillsboro, Kan.) is ranked ninth in the MIAA in assist to turnover ratio, 13th in assists, 14th in scoring and 15th in made three-pointers.  She had 18 points on five of eight shooting against Pittsburg State. She had 12 points at Northeastern State. She had 12 points and four assists against Washburn. She had 12 points at Pittsburg State. She scored 16 points on six of 11 shooting against Lindenwood. She had ten points at Ft. Hays State. She scored ten points on five of six shooting and had five rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She had 11 points against Lubbock Christian. She scored 19 points on eight of 12 shooting and dished five assists against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had 19 points with four made three-pointers at Drury. She scored 18 points against Truman. She had 17 points against Okla. Baptist. She scored 14 points with seven assists against Southwestern Oklahama. She scored 17 points on six of nine shooting at Baylor.
She averaged 13.0 points in the Central Regional Tournament last year. She was 14th in the MIAA in assists last season. She scored 13 points in the Regional Championship game against Pittsburg State. She was four of four from the field and scored ten points against Winona State in the regional semifinals. She had 16 points against Northern State in the first round of the regional. She scored 14 points with five rebounds and three assists against Pittsburg State in the MIAA Championship Game. She had 14 points and four assists against Missouri Western in the MIAA Semifinals. She scored ten points against Central Okla. in the MIAA Quarterfinals. She scored 13 points against Washburn. She had 18 points to go with three assists against Northwest Missouri. She scored 14 points with four assists at Central Okla. She scored 16 points and hit four of six three-pointers against Lincoln. She had 16 points against Central Missouri along with four assists, three rebounds, a block and a steal. She dished a career high 12 assists against Science & Arts. 
She was named MIAA Freshman of the Year and honorable mention All-MIAA in 2014-15. 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 scored 15 points against Neb.-Kearney. 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 with three three-pointers.
She is tenth in career made three-pointers at Emporia State with 123. 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
Forward Kyrstie Miller (Jr./Holton, Kan.) is second in the MIAA in steals, is sixth in blocked shots and offensive rebounding, tenth in rebounding, 11th in defensive rebounding and 15th in made three-pointers. She had 11 points, all in the second half, against Missouri Southern. She tied her career high with four blocked shots against Pittsburg State and added ten points with nine rebounds. She scored a career high 24 points with eight rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal against Washburn. She scored nine points with six rebounds and five steals against Lindenwood. She had 18 points, five rebounds and three steals against Lincoln. She scored 11 points with seven rebounds and four steals at Ft. Hays State. She had 14 points and eight boards at Neb.-Kearney. She had ten points, a career high 12 rebounds and six steals against Lubbock Christian. She scored 16 points with nine rebounds and three steals at Drury. She had 14 points and five boards against Truman. She scored a career high 19 points against Okla. Baptist and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. She had 14 points, six rebounds, four blocks and two steals against Southwestern Okla. She scored eight points with five rebounds, five assists and four steals at Baylor.
She was 12th in the MIAA in blocked shots last year. She scored five points with nine rebounds, two assists a block and a steal in the regional championship game against Pittsburg State last season. She had ten points and eight boards against Washburn. She had 11 points on four of four shooting, five rebounds and three steals at Southwest Baptist. She tied her then career high with ten rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She had 17 points on six of nine shooting from the field and hit five three-pointers against Science & Arts.
She was second on the team in steals and blocks, and fourth in assists and three-pointers while averaging 18.5 minutes per game as a freshman. She scored seven points with three blocked shots against Ft. Hays State in the regional championship game. She had ten rebounds against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Championship game. 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 eight points with four rebounds and two assists at Kansas State and her three-pointer with 1:06 left gave Emporia State a 50-49 lead.
She has 74 blocked shots in her career and needs two more to tie Ida Edwards (76 from 2007-09) for tenth on the Lady Hornet career list.
 
HOLLOWAY WITH THE FALL AWAY
Guard Megan Holloway (Sr./Salina, Kan.) scored eight points with two steals against Missouri Southern. She had four assists and two steals against Pittsburg State. She tied her career high with seven rebounds at Northeastern State. She had six points and three assists at Central Oklahoma. She scored seven points with two steals against Lindenwood. She tied her career high with five assists at Neb.-Kearney. She scored ten points on three of four shooting from behind the three-point line with four assists against Lubbock Christian. She scored a career high 14 points on five of six shooting from the field against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She scored eight points with five rebounds and two assists against Truman. She had eight points and four assists against Tabor. She had a career high five assists against Oklahoma Baptist. She scored five points with five rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma. She had five points on three shots at Baylor.
She scored ten points with two three-pointers against Washburn last year. She led Emporia State with 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 scored five points with five rebounds, with four on the offensive glass, against Missouri Western. 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 had seven points, five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal against Hawai'i Hilo.  
She scored six points on three of five shooting against Pittsburg State in the 2015 MIAA Tournament semifinals. She had seven rebounds against Mo. 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!
Guard Jacee Kramer (Jr./Winchester, Kan.) scored six points with four rebounds and three assists against Washburn. She hit a key three-pointer late at Pittsburg State. She scored seven points with five rebounds and three steals at Ft. Hays State. She scored 14 points against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had 11 points and two steals against Truman. She scored 15 points with four rebounds against Kansas Christian. She had 13 points with three assists against Tabor. She scored 11 points on a perfect shooting night against Oklahoma Baptist, going three of three from the field.
She scored 11 points with five rebounds against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Quarterfinals last year. She had ten points and three assists against Washburn. She scored 13 points with six rebounds and four assists against Southwest Baptist. 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 for four from the line against Ft. Hays State in the 2015 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 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 11 points and went three of six from behind the three-point line at Southern Arkansas. She had career highs of 17 points and six assists against Southwestern. 
 
BAKER'S DOZEN
Forward Shelby Baker (So./Spring Hill, Kan.) pulled five rebounds against Missouri Southern. She had a career high nine rebounds at Northeastern State. She scored eight points with five rebounds in ten minutes at Central Oklahoma. She had three points and three boards at Pittsburg State. She scored 11 points with six rebounds and two blocks against Lindenwood. She had hit 12 straight shots from the field over four games before missing her fourth shot against the Lions. She had a career high 14 points on six of six shooting with five rebounds in 21 minutes at Neb.-Kearney.  She was scored six points with a key three-point play late at Drury. She had four points and three steals against Truman. She scored eight points and pulled five boards against Kansas Christian. She had four points and eight rebounds against Tabor. She scored five points with six rebounds against Oklahoma Baptist. She had nine points and four boards against Southwestern Oklahoma.
She hit a three-pointer against Pittsburg State in the first half of the 2016 MIAA Championship Game. 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-team All-Frontier League selection as a junior and a two-time honorable mention All-Class 4A honoree.
 
BLOSSOMING
Forward Tiana Moala (So./Paola, Kan.) is fifth in the MIAA in blocked shots. She had three points and three rebounds in five minutes at Pittsburg State. She had a double-double with 14 points and ten boards against Lincoln. She had seven rebounds and two blocks at Ft. Hays State. She had seven boards against Lubbock Christian. She had eight points, nine rebounds and a career high five blocks with three assists and two steals against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had six boards in 19 minutes at Drury. She scored nine points on four of six shooting in 18 minutes against Truman. She had 12 points on six of eight shooting with seven rebounds against Kansas Christian. She had a career high 22 points against Tabor, scoring the first ten points of the game, pulling down seven rebounds with three blocks. She scored five points and had eight rebounds with two blocks against Oklahoma Baptist. She pulled a career high 15 rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma while scoring seven points and blocking three shots, both of which were career highs as well. 
She pulled two rebounds against Northeastern State last year. 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 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 led the Panthers to the state tournament three years.
 
PIED PIPER
Guard Jessica Wayne (Fr./Kansas City, Kan.) is 13th in the MIAA in blocked shots in conference games. She had five points and a steal against Missouri Southern. She scored three points with five rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal against Washburn. She had five rebounds at Pittsburg State. She scored five points with four rebounds, two blocks and a steal against Lindenwood. She had six points and seven rebounds with three blocks against Lincoln. She scored four points with six rebounds and three steals at Ft. Hays State. She scored ten points at Neb.-Kearney. She had a career high nine assists against Kansas Christian. She had 17 points off the bench against Tabor. She scored ten points with four rebounds, three assists and three steals against Okla. Baptist. She had nine points against Southwestern Okla. She had six points on two of two shooting from behind the arc at Baylor.
She is the Piper HS record holder in career scoring with 1,386 points while scoring a school record 533 points as a senior.  She earned first-team All-Class 4A-I honors after averaging 24.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.9 steals and 3.2 assists for the Pirates as a senior. She was a third team All-State selection as a junior after averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 3.2 assists and was named the Kansas City, Kan. Player of the Year. 
 
LOUD ENOUGH
Guard Morgan Laudan (Fr./Osawatomie, Kan.) scored six points at Northeastern State. She had two steals in three minutes against Washburn. She had six rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She scored four points with four boards against Lubbock Christian. She had nine points and six rebounds against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had five rebounds against Truman. She had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds while dishing seven assists against Kansas Christian. She had ten points and four steals against Tabor. She scored seven points with eight rebounds and two assists against Southwestern Oklahoma in her Lady Hornet regular season debut. She scored four points with two rebounds at Baylor.
She was a third-team All-Kansas pick for Paola HS  and a first-team All-Class 4A-I selection as a senior.  She averaged 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game as she was named the Tri-County Spotlight Player of the Year and second-team All-Class 4A as a junior. She led the Panthers to the state tournament all four years scoring 23 points in the state championships game as a senior after averaging 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals at the state tourney as a junior.
 
BACK FROM THE GRAVE
Tatum Graves (So./Shawnee, Kan.) had two rebounds at Northeastern State. She hit two free throws against Washburn. She pulled three boards against Lindenwood in four minutes. She had two blocks and a steal in nine minutes at Neb.-Kearney. She pulled three rebounds and had two assists against Lubbock Christian. She had four points and three rebounds against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She blocked three shots in six minutes against Truman. She had six points and seven rebounds against Kansas Christian. She averaged 1.41 kills and 0.69 blocks per set for the Hornet volleyball team this fall.
She injured an ankle against Northeastern State and missed the final eight games. She scored two points with two rebounds and two blocks at Lincoln. 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 where she averaged 1.74 kills on a team best .288 hitting.
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 (So./St. Marys, Kan.) is in her second year with the Lady Hornets. She had nine points and two assists against Kansas Christian. She hit a three-pointer against Oklahoma Baptist.
She hit a three-pointer against Washburn last year. She scored three points in three minutes at Lincoln. She scored her first points on a three-pointer against Lincoln in White Auditorium. 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 (Jr./Melvern, Kan.) scored four points in four minutes against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had a career high 14 points with three assists and five rebounds against Kansas Christian. She scored three points against Oklahoma Baptist.
She made her Lady Hornet debut against Southwestern Oklahoma after redshirting last season following her transfer 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 a nation's best 87-28 (.757) in non-conference action this year with a 59-27 (.686) record against Division II schools.  In the Central Region, the Northern Sun is 48-31 (.608) overall and 27-27 (.500) against D-II competition while the Great American Conference has gone 29-30 (.492) overall and 21-28 (.429) against Division II opponents. The MIAA is 10-6 against the NSIC and 12-2 (.857) against the GAC this year.
 
HOME COOKIN'
The Lady Hornets have won 263 of the last 288 (.913) games at home and have won 14 in a row in White Auditorium. 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 411-93 (.815) overall since 1979 at home and hold the MIAA record for consecutive home wins with 62 set from 1997-2001. Emporia State is 11-6 against top ten teams in White Auditorium.
 
MIAA TOURNEY EXCELLENCE
Emporia State has won the last four MIAA Tournament Championships and 12 straight games in tournament play. They are the first team to have two different streaks of at least four straight championships. 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 40-13 all-time in MIAA Tournament play.
 
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
The Lady Hornets are ranked #7 in this week's USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches Poll, the 266th week for Emporia State in the national rankings and 188th week in the top ten. This is the fifth season Emporia State has earned a #1 ranking, first in 2004-05, next in 2006-07, again after winning the 2009-10 national championship and they opened the season last year and held onto the spot through their first seven games. The Lady Hornets are 20-6 all-time when playing as the #1 team in the nation. The Lady Hornets have won 20 games in 14 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the nation and their streak of 21 straight winning seasons is the longest active streak in the MIAA. They have made the NCAA Tournament 18 times in the last 20 years and their 38-17 record in the tourney is ranked fourth among active Division II schools in total tournament wins. Emporia State has made six Elite Eight trips, the most of any team since 1997. The Lady Hornets 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 have won seven MIAA regular season championships and eight MIAA Tournament championships in the last 19 years. Emporia State has appeared in 13 of the last 19 MIAA Tournament Championship games and have made it to the semifinals in 19 of the last 20 seasons.
 
BRING IT ON   
The Lady Hornets are 77-48 (.616) against Top 25 teams since 1997-98.  Emporia State is 27-11 (.711) at home against Top 25 teams since 1997. The Lady Hornets have 31 wins against Top 10 teams, including four against #1 teams in the last six seasons. Emporia State is 31-15 (.674) in neutral site games with top 25 foes since 1997. 
 
RANKINGS
Emporia State is ranked #7 in this week's WBCA Division II Coaches Poll and are one of three MIAA teams in this week's Top Ten. 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 266 weeks since first appearing in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have been in the top ten for 188 weeks. They are currently ranked #2 in the Massey Ratings, #3 in the HeroSports.com ranking, and #6 in the D2SIDA National Media Poll.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
The Lady Hornets have topped the 100-point barrier 71 times and have eclipsed the 110 point mark 29 times in their history. Since 1997-98, the Lady Hornets are 275-2 (.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 151-2 (.987) all-time when holding opponents to 50 points or less. The 122-40 win over Kansas Christian was the 90th time the Lady Hornets scored 80 or more and held their opponent to 50 or less and the 12th time they have scored 100 and held their opponent to 40 points or less.
 
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 787 games. They are leading the MIAA in scoring defense this year. 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 28-7 (.800) 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 five NCAA Regional Tournament Championship games, while making the semifinals at the Elite Eight in 2015. Emporia State is 78-30 (.722) all-time in MIAA and NCAA Tournament games.
 
LADY HORNETS NCAA HISTORY
The Lady Hornets have made the NCAA Tournament 18 times in the last 20 years and their 38-17 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 13 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 260 games. The Lady Hornets drew an average of 2,028 fans to their 13 home games on Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium during the 2015-16 season to rank third nationally. Emporia State averaged more than 28 teams that made the NCAA Division I Tournament, including national runner-up Syracuse and Final Four participant Washington. They outdrew 280 NCAA Division I schools, including 20 from the "Power 5" conferences - nine from the ACC, six from the Pac 12, two from the SEC two from the Big 10 and one Big 12 school. 
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 19 years.
 
NOT SUCH A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The host team for the NCAA Regional the Lady Hornets compete in has won the tournament only twice in the last 12 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 four times with Washburn falling to Emporia State in 2006 in Lee Arena, West Texas A&M defeating Central Oklahoma in 2009 in Canyon, Texas, Ft. Hays State falling to Emporia State in 2014 in Hays and Pittsburg State defeating Emporia State last year in Pittsburg.
 
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 255-74 (.775) in MIAA play since the 2000 season and 446-113 (.798) 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 288-75 (.793) in MIAA play and 509-117 (.813) overall. The Lady Hornets have been ranked in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll 188 times, the most of any NCAA Division II school.  Emporia State has been to 18 NCAA Tournaments, made the Regional Championship or "Sweet 16" 13 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 eight 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 eight tourney titles.
 
...AND IN THE CLASSROOM
Emporia State had a team GPA of 3.73 during the Fall 2016 semester. 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 316-6 (.981) when leading at the 5:00 mark since the start of the 2004-05 season and are 483-12 (.976) since 1997 with a lead at the 5:00 mark. 
 
STREAKS AND SUCH
•The Lady Hornets have hit a three pointer in 350 straight games dating back to a zero for 14 effort at Washburn on Feb. 15, 2006.
•The Lady Hornets have held their last 787 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 32 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 21 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 five straight regional championship games and have made it to the regional final in the last six NCAA Tournaments they have played in.
•The Lady Hornets have defeated the host team in their regional six times in the last 12 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 871-378 (.697) 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.