LADY HORNETS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT WITH 78-66 VICTORY AT PITT STATE

January 17, 2018-For the second game in a row, the Lady Hornets had a season high shooting night as they defeated Pittsburg State 78-66 on Wednesday night in Pittsburg, Kan.
 
Emporia State started slowly as Pitt State jumped out to a 7-0 lead just 2:45 into the game and led 18-11 with 4:07 left in the period. The Lady Hornets went on a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game at 18 and would only trail 23-21 after one.
There were six ties and 11 lead changes in the second quarter with neither team taking more than a two point lead in the period.  Jessica Wayne hit two free throws with 43.1 seconds left and Tatum Graves scored inside at the buzzer to give the Lady Hornets a 40-38 lead at the break.
 
Emporia State came out of the locker room quick, getting layups from Tiana Moala and Jacee Kramer to take a 44-38 lead less than a minute into the half. Marissa Preston hit a three-pointer with 7:22 left to give the Lady Hornets a 49-42 lead and force Pitt State to call a timeout.  The lead would stay between four and seven points the rest of the period with Kali Martin burying a three-pointer with three seconds left to give Emporia State a 59-52 lead going to the fourth.
 
Wayne gave Emporia State a nine point lead to start the fourth quarter.  The Gorillas would cut the lead to six points on three occasions but the Lady Hornets had an answer each time.  After a 5-0 Pitt State run, Pitt State cut the lead to six on old-fashioned three-point play by Paige Imhoff with 4:32 left.  Morgan Laudan answered with a layup inside for Emporia State as the shot clock was winding down and Wayne pushed the lead to double figures at 72-62 with 3:24 left.  Madison Northcutt hit two free throws to cut the lead to 74-66 but that would be the last Gorilla score of the game as the Lady Hornets held them scoreless the final 2:04 of the game.
 
Jessica Wayne had 14 points to lead four Lady Hornets in double figures.  She was joined by Emily Miller with 13 points, Morgan Laudan with 12 and Marissa Preston with 11 points.  Laudan had nine rebounds while Tiana Moala had eight points and seven rebounds for Emporia State.  
 
The Lady Hornets were 30 of 51 (.588) from the field and eight of 12 (.667) from behind the arc while holding the Gorillas to just 21 of 54 (.389) from the field, including a three of 15 effort in the fourth quarter.
 
Emporia State will travel to Joplin, Mo. on Saturday for a matinee with Missouri Southern.  Tip-off from the Leggett & Platt Center is set for 1:30 p.m.