January 6, 2018-The Lady Hornets held Washburn scoreless for the final 3:303 of the game on their way to a 70-62 win over the Ichabods in the 100
th edition of the Turnpike Tussle. It is the 12
th straight win in the series for Emporia State.
Morgan Laudan had a pair of layups around an Emily Miller three-pointer during a first quarter 7-2 run that gave Emporia State a 17-11 lead with 1:17 left in the period. When Tatum Graves scored inside with 7:19 left, the Lady Hornets took their biggest lead of the first half at 25-17. The Ichabods answered with a 12-0 run and went ahead 29-25 with 2:41 left in the half. Madison Ralston hit a three-pointer with 1:49 left to pull Emporia State within 31-30, but Washburn ended the half on a 7-2 run to take a 38-32 lead into the locker room.
Marissa Preston hit a three-pointer to start the second half and a pair of Jacee Kramer free throws pulled the Lady Hornets within a point with 9:04 left in the third. Emporia State was still within four points with 3:19 left when Reagan Phelan went on a personal 6-0 run to give Washburn a 53-43 lead with 2:12 left in the third quarter. Phelan's old fashioned three-point play with 2:12 left would be the last score of the period for the Ichabods as Emporia State closed the third on an 8-0 run to pull within 53-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
Graves hit one of two free throws a minute into the fourth to extend the run to 9-0 before Taylor Blue scored ten seconds later to give Washburn a 55-52 lead. Preston tied the game at 55 with a three-pointer to jump start a 7-0 Lady Hornet run. Kramer ended the run with a jumper to give Emporia State a 59-55 lead with 5:41 left. Washburn's Alexis McAfee was fouled on a three-point attempt and converted all three charities to pull WU within 63-60 with 3:45 left. Laudan answered with a three-pointer at the other end to make it 66-60. Mackenzie Loe scored inside for her game high 21
st point of the night for the Ichabods with 3:05 left to make it 66-62. That would be the final score of the night for Washburn.
Over the final three minutes the Lady Hornets would force the Ichabods into four missed three-pointers and two turnovers. Jessica Wayne hit a free throw with 2:38 left and then scored inside with 1:13 left to give Emporia State a three-possession lead at 69-62. Tyra Jones would hit one of two free throws with 38.8 seconds left for the final score.
Four Lady Hornets were in double figures with Tyra Jones recording her fifth double-double of the year as she had 13 points and ten rebounds. Marissa Preston and Morgan Laudan matched her with 13 points while Tatum Graves had a career high 13 rebounds.
Emporia State is back in action on Wednesday, January 10 against #16 Central Oklahoma. Tip-off in White Auditorium is set for 5:30 p.m.
