LADY HORNETS USE BIG THIRD QUARTER IN 77-63 WIN AT SOUTHWEST BAPTIST

February 15, 2018-The Lady Hornets shook off a sluggish first half with a 32-8 blitz in the third quarter of a 77-63 win at Southwest Baptist on Thursday night in Bolivar, Mo.
 
The Bearcats never trailed in the first quarter and led 18-11 with 2:41 remaining in the period.  The Lady Hornets scored the final five points to pull within 18-13 headed into the second quarter.
 
After Megan Rosenbohm scored to start the second quarter Jacee Kramer and Kali Martin combined on a 5-0 spurt to tie the game at 20 and force a Bearcat timeout 2:06 into the period.  The teams traded scores over the next three and a half minutes with Tyra Jones giving the Lady Hornets a 27-26 lead with 5:09 left.  The Bearcats answered with an 8-0 run to take a 34-27 lead with 2:06 left in the half.  A Laura Vierkant three-pointer with 1:07 left was the last score of the period and gave the Bearcats a 39-31 lead at the break.
 
The Lady Hornets came out of the locker room on fire as they went on a 13-0 run to open the second half. Emporia State forced three turnover and two missed shots by SBU during the run. Jessica Wayne got a steal and layup cap the run and give Emporia State a 44-39 lead with 7:11 left.  The Lady Hornets would later use a 10-4 run to take a 56-46 lead with 2:36 left in the third.  Bailey Rezabek hit one free throw to bring the lead under double digits with 2:23 left when the Lady Hornets went on another 13-0 run that lasted into the fourth quarter to take control of the game. 
 
Marissa Preston gave Emporia State their biggest lead of the night at 69-47 with 8:40 left in the game and the Lady Hornets would coast to the 77-63 victory.
 
Tyra Jones had 12 points and a career high 17 rebounds as five Lady Hornets scored in double figures and Emporia State outrebounded SBU 52-31 on the night. Jacee Kramer had a team high 17 points while Marissa Preston scored 16, Jessica Wayne had 13, and Emily Miller scored 11 points.
 
The Lady Hornets will take the weekend off before heading to Oklahoma for the final two games of the regular season.  Emporia State will play at Northeastern State on Thursday, February 22 in Tahlequah, Okla. Tip-off from the NSU Events Center is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
NOTES
Jones' 17 rebounds are the most by a Lady Hornet since Kathryn Flott had 19 against Southwest Baptist last year.