Game #28
Emporia State Lady Hornets (17-10, 11-8 MIAA)
vs. Ft. Hays State Tigers (23-5, 14-5 MIAA)
Series Record: ESU leads 49-32 Last Meeting: at FHSU 90, ESU 63 (Jan. 31, 2018)
Thursday, March 1 • 12:00 p.m. • Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM (11:40 p.m.) Internet Audio:
kvoe.com
Television: None Internet Video:
themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Live Stats •
Ticket Info •
Complete Notes in pdf •
ESU MIAA Post Season Guide in pdf
Up Next: vs PSU/WU winner • Sat., March 3 • 12:00 p.m. • Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium
MARCH MEANS SOMETHING
The Lady Hornets return to Kansas City's historic Municipal Auditorium to take on Ft. Hays State in a rematch of the 2015 MIAA Championship game. Emporia State is in quest of their unprecedented sixth straight MIAA Tournament Championship. The Lady Hornets are 44-13 all-time in MIAA Tournament play, have won 16 straight tourney games, and played in seven straight title games.
LAST TIME OUT
Playing in her final game in White Auditorium, senior Jacee Kramer had a career high 23 points as the Lady Hornets defeated Northeastern State 72-62 in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. The Lady Hornets led 63-56 midway through the fourth quarter when Kramer scored four straight points to push the lead to double figures with 2:51 remaining. Kramer's career high 23 points came on nine of 13 shooting and she added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Emily Miller added ten points to join her in double figures as all nine Lady Hornets that played scored.
THE COACHES
Jory Collins is 199-57 in his eighth year as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. He has 35 career wins against Top 25 teams. This is his 17th season on the Lady Hornet coaching staff and Emporia State has advanced to the NCAA tournament in 14 of the first 16 seasons. He is the first Lady Hornet coach to have seven 20 win seasons in his first seven years as head coach. He is 20-2 in the MIAA Tournament and 34-8 in post season play. He is 11-6 against Ft. Hays State.
Tony Hobson is 202-90 in his tenth year at Ft. Hays State, 413-130 overall in his 17th year as a head coach. He is 8-8 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 6-16 against Emporia State.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 17-10 overall, 11-8 in the MIAA and the sixth seed in the MIAA Tournament. They will have played the fourth toughest schedule in the nation with their opponents a combined 375-274 (.578) on the season. Six Lady Hornets are averaging a at least 8.8 points per game. Emporia State is third in the MIAA in three-pointe field goal percentage but ranks 13th in three-pointers attempted.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Ft. Hays State is 23-5 overall, 14-5 in the MIAA and the third seed in the MIAA Tournament. The are leading the MIAA in turnover margin and are ranked second in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and rebounding. Tatyan Legette is averaging a team best 13.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Hornets lead the all-time series 49-32. The home team has won ten of the last 13 meetings. Emporia State leads the series 5-2 in neutral site games and has won all three meetings in the MIAA Tournament.
LAST TIMEOUT VS. FT. HAYS STATE
The Lady Hornets had a 15 point lead midway through the second quarter but then gave up a 19-0 run to Fort Hays State on the way to a 90-63 loss to the Tigers in Hays. Jacee Kramer led Emporia State with 15 points and was joined in double figures by Jessica Wayne with 11 points while Morgan Laudan and Tyra Jones had ten points each.
UP NEXT
The winner will take on the winner of the game between Pittsburg State and Washburn on Saturday in the quarterfinals. Tip-off from Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. is set for 12:00 p.m.
ROAD WARRIORS
Emporia State is 267-103 (.722) away from home, 97-27 (.782) in neutral site games and 57-14 (.803) 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 regionals. Emporia State is 49-39 (.557) away from White Auditorium against Top 25 teams. The Lady Hornets are 136-58 (.701) on the road in MIAA league play since 1997-98. Emporia State is 37-15 (.712) in NCAA Tournament games away from White Auditorium.
KRAMER!
Guard Jacee Kramer (Sr./Winchester, Kan.) had a career high 23 points in her last game in White Auditorium against Northeastern State. She scored 18 points at Central Oklahoma. She had 17 points at Southwest Baptist. She scored 16 points against Washburn. She had 14 points against Missouri Western. She scored 14 points against Northwest Missouri. She had 16 points at Neb.-Kearney. She scored 15 points on six of 11 shooting off the bench at Ft. Hays State. She dished five assists at Pittsburg State. She had 11 points against Northeastern State. She scored ten points against Central Oklahoma. She scored a then career high 18 points with five rebounds against Oklahoma Christian. She had 13 points and five assists against Texas Woman's. She scored 17 points against Oklahoma Baptist. She had a game high 17 points at Kansas.
She scored 12 points with three rebounds and two assists against Harding in the NCAA Central Regional final. She broke her own MIAA Tournament record as she hit 13 straight from the free throw line in last year's tourney. She had 13 points against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA championship game. She was eight for eight from the free throw line and scored 11 points against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Quarterfinals. She hit four of five three-point attempts at Washburn for 12 points. She had 15 points at Northwest Missouri.
She scored 11 points with five rebounds against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Quarterfinals as a sophomore. She had ten points against Washburn. 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 was four for four from the line against Ft. Hays State in the 2015 MIAA Championship game and went 12 for 12 in the tourney. She had ten points against Pittsburg State in the MIAA semifinals. She had ten points against Central Oklahoma. She was eight for eight from the free throw line with ten points at Ft. Hays State. She had 17 points against Southwestern.
BILL RUSSELL PART TWO
Guard Marissa Preston (Gr./Kansas City, Mo.) is seventh in the MIAA in made three-pointers. She scored 15 points at Northeastern State. She had 16 points and three steals at Southwest Baptist. She hit three three-pointers in the first quarter against Washburn. She scored 12 points on four three-pointers against Mo. Western. She had 11 points and was three of three from behind the arc against Northwest Missouri. She scored ten points at Neb.-Kearney. She was perfect from the field at Pitt State for 11 points and had a career high six rebounds. She had 13 points at Washburn. She scored a career high 19 points including a five of seven effort from behind the three-point line against Pittsburg State. She had four assists against Ft. Hays State. She scored 17 points going five of eight from behind the three-point line against Neb.-Kearney. She had six points in her first start of the season at Ark.-Ft. Smith. She scored nine points with four rebounds and two assists against Okla. Baptist.
She came to Emporia State as a graduate assistant after she decided to no longer play basketball following a season at Neb.-Omaha. With injuries to three players this season, she has been placed on the active roster in addition to maintaining some of her GA duties. She appeared in 31 games with 10 starts for UNO last season. She averaged 5.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game and led the Mavericks with a .458 three-point field goal percentage. She scored 17 points at South Dakota and was five for nine from the three-point line. She appeared in all 30 games with three starts as a sophomore in 2015-16 for UNO. She redshirted the 2014-15 season after transferring from Wichita State. She played in 26 games and started one as a freshman for the Shockers.
She was a MBCA Class 5A all-state selection at Staley HS, averaging 20 points, four assists, two rebounds and five steals per game as a senior.
MOTOR CITY
Forward Tyra Jones (Jr./Detroit, Mich.) was named third team All-MIAA. She is ranked fifth in the league in offensive rebounds and tenth in overall rebounding. She is shooting .643 from the field but is seven makes shy of qualifying for the MIAA and NCAA leaders. She is averaging 17.1 points and 9.5 rebounds in the 13 games in which she has played more than 20 minutes.
She had nine points and eight rebounds against Northeastern State. She had 20 points on five of five shooting and seven rebounds at Central Oklahoma. She had 12 points and a career high 17 rebounds at Southwest Baptist. She scored 15 points with 9 rebounds against Washburn. She scored 13 points with nine rebounds against Northwest Missouri. She scored 23 points with 13 rebounds, three steals and a block against Southwest Baptist. She had seven points and seven rebounds against Central Missouri. She scored 12 points against Missouri Southern. She scored 15 points against Northeastern State. She had ten rebounds against Central Oklahoma. She scored 13 points with ten rebounds against Washburn. She had 16 points and 14 boards against Pittsburg State. She had 17 points and ten rebounds at Lindenwood. She scored 25 points on nine of 11 shooting from the field with six rebounds against Ft. Hays State. She had 14 points on six of eight shooting and nine rebounds against Neb.-Kearney. She was 10 for 10 from the field and scored 22 points with nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks against Oklahoma Christian. She was named MIAA Player of the Week after going for 34 points and 11 rebounds against Texas Woman's and was 16 of a school record 22 from the line. She had 18 points and 12 rebounds on six of ten shooting from the field and six of nine from the foul line at Newman. She scored 12 points and four rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma. She had 16 points and 13 rebounds at Kansas State. She had ten points, a game high nine rebounds and three steals at Kansas.
She averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game to go along with 2.1 assists as she earned First-Team NJCAA Division II All-American honors last season at Labette CC. She played in 15 games for Duquesne as a freshman.
She averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds and 4.5 assists senior season at Cody HS in Detroit. She was a Detroit News All-Area and USA Today All-Detroit Girls Basketball Honorable Mention honoree.
TESTED TOUGH
Guard Emily Miller (Jr./Columbia, Mo.) has scored in double figures in four straight games after going scoreless in back to back games against Missouri Western and Washburn. She scored ten points with five rebounds, two assists and two steals in her return to the starting line-up against Northeastern State. She had 19 points with 13 coming in the second half at Central Oklahoma. She scored 11 points at Northeastern State. She had 11 points at Southwest Baptist. She scored 13 points against Central Missouri. She had a career high 13 rebounds with 13 points at Missouri Southern. She went three for three from behind the arc and finished with 13 points at Pittsburg State. She scored 17 points against Northeastern State. She had 12 points and four assists against Pittsburg State. She scored 17 points and was three of three from behind the three-point line against Ft. Hays State. She had 19 points against Oklahoma Christian. She had 15 points against Texas Woman's. She had 16 points with six rebounds at Ark.-Ft. Smith. She scored 17 points and dished four assists against Oklahoma Baptist. She had a career high 25 points with six made three-pointers against Southwestern Oklahoma. She had 19 points with five three-pointers and six assists at Kansas State in exhibition play. She scored 15 points with three three-pointers and six assists at Kansas.
She averaged 5.5 points on .607 shooting from the field with 2.9 rebounds per game in 18 contests with Drury before transferring to Emporia State at the semester last year.
She was the all-time leading scorer at Hickman HS in Columbia with 1,816 points. She averaged 21 points and 4.4 rebounds per game her senior season. She was a three-time Class 5 All-State selection.
BLOSSOMING
Forward Tiana Moala (Jr./Paola, Kan.) is fifth in the MIAA in blocked shots and has eight blocks in her last three games. She scored six points with seven rebounds and two blocks against Northeastern State. She blocked four shots at Central Oklahoma. She had six rebounds and three blocks against Washburn. She scored ten points and grabbed five rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She had nine rebounds and three blocks at Ft. Hays State. She scored nine points against Southwest Baptist. She had seven rebounds and two blocks at Mo. Southern. She scored eight points, pulled seven rebounds and had two blocks at Pitt State. She scored seven points with five rebounds and two blocks at Lincoln. She had seven rebounds and two blocks against Texas Woman's. She had eight points, nine rebounds and two blocks at Ark.-Ft. Smith. She scored seven points with seven rebounds against Oklahoma Baptist. She had seven rebounds and three blocks against Southwestern Okla. She pulled six rebounds at K-State. She had five rebounds and two blocks at KU.
She was ranked 13th in the MIAA in blocked shots last season. She had 14 points and ten boards against Lincoln. She had seven rebounds and two blocks at Ft. Hays State. She had eight points, nine rebounds and five blocks against Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had a career high 22 points against Tabor. She pulled a career high 15 rebounds against Southwestern Oklahoma.
She scored four points with a block and a steal against Mo. Southern as a freshman. She had five rebounds at Southwestern Okla.
She was a first-team All Class 4A pick for Paola HS and led the Panthers to three state tourneys.
PIED PIPER
Guard Jessica Wayne (So./Kansas City, Kan.) was named to the MIAA All-Defensive team. She is ranked fifth in the MIAA in steals and tenth in blocks. She had three steals against Northeastern State in the MIAA First Round Game. She had 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals at Northeastern State. She scored 13 points with seven boards and five steals at Southwest Baptist. She had eight rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and three assist against Washburn. She scored 11 points with five boards, three assists and three steals against Northwest Missouri. She had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists at Neb.-Kearney. She had a career high 23 points with seven rebounds, five assists and four steals against Southwest Baptist. She scored ten points with a career high nine rebounds against Central Missouri. She had ten points, six rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals at Missouri Southern. She scored 14 points with five rebounds at Pittsburg State. She was six of ten for 13 points against Northeastern State. She scored 16 points with a career high six steals against Central Oklahoma. She had ten points along with two blocks and two steals at Washburn. She pulled seven rebounds against Pittsburg State. She had eight rebounds and scored seven points against Neb.-Kearney. She had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals at Ark.-Ft. Smith. She had seven points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals against Southwestern Okla. She had four steals to go with seven points and four rebounds at K-State.
As a freshman she scored six points on three of five shooting against Pittsburg State in the regional semifinals. She had five steals in the regional quarterfinals against Northern State. She had 11 points at Northwest Missouri. She scored seven points with five rebounds against Ft. Hays State. She had ten points and four rebounds at Southwest Baptist. She scored six points with three rebounds, a steal, block and assist at Central Missouri. 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 against Tabor. She scored ten points with four rebounds, three assists and three steals against Okla. Baptist. She had six points on two of two shooting from behind the arc at Baylor.
She is the Piper HS record holder with 1,386 points career points and 533 points single season points. She was first-team All-Class 4A-I 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 and was named the KCK Player of the Year.
LOUD ENOUGH
Guard Morgan Laudan (So./Osawatomie, Kan.) scored nine points and made two three-pointers at Central Oklahoma. She had 11 points and six rebounds against Missouri Western. She had 13 points and 11 rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She scored ten points with six rebounds at Ft. Hays State. She had eight points, five rebounds and five assists against Southwest Baptist. She scored 12 points with nine rebounds at Pittsburg State. She had 12 points and seven rebounds against Central Oklahoma. She scored 13 points with six rebounds and three assists at Washburn. She grabbed 12 rebounds against Pitt State. She had 11 points at Lindenwood. She had career highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds while tying her career high with seven assists against Oklahoma Christian. She scored 11 points with five rebounds and four assists at Ark.-Ft. Smith. She scored five points with six rebounds at K-State.
Last year she scored six points with six rebounds against Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Title game. She had seven rebounds against Central Missouri in the MIAA semifinals. She scored ten points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished five assists against Northeastern State. She had 17 points and 12 rebounds with seven assists against Kansas Christian.
She was a third-team All-Kansas pick for Paola HS and a first-team All-Class 4A-I selection as a senior. She was the Tri-County Spotlight Player of the Year as a junior. She led the Panthers to the state tourney all four years scoring 23 points in the championship game as a senior.
BACK FROM THE GRAVE
Tatum Graves (Jr./Shawnee, Kan.) pulled four boards at Southwest Baptist. She had a career high three steals against Central Missouri. She had six rebounds and three blocked shots at Missouri Southern. She scored four points with three rebounds at Pittsburg State. She had a career high 13 rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal at Washburn. She had six rebounds against Pittsburg State. She tied her career high with nine points at Lincoln. She scored nine points with five rebounds against Neb.-Kearney. She earned Second-Team All-MIAA honors in volleyball. She was sixth in the MIAA in hitting percentage at .299 and ranked ninth in blocks at 1.00 per set.
She blocked 14 shots in 18 games last year. She blocked one shot in five minutes against Southwest Baptist. She had two blocked shots in three minutes at Northwest Missouri. She 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 at Neb.-Kearney. She pulled three rebounds and had two assists against Lubbock Christian. She blocked three shots 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 last year.
She injured an ankle against Northeastern State and missed the final eight games of 2016. She scored two points with two rebounds and two blocks at Lincoln. She made her debut on the basketball court against Science & Arts just four days after wrapping up her freshman season on the volleyball court 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.
CIRCLE THE WAGONS
Guard Kali Martin (Fr./El Dorado, Kan.) scored seven points against Northeastern State in the first round game. She had six points with two assists, two blocks and a steal at Central Oklahoma before fouling out. She scored nine points against Southwest Baptist. She had six points on two made three-pointers at Pittsburg State. She scored four points with three boards and two steals against Northeastern State. She scored six points against Pittsburg State. She scored a career high 13 points going eight of ten from the free throw line with three steals at Lindenwood. She had a career high five rebounds against Ft. Hays State. She scored nine points with three rebounds and two steals at Newman. She scored seven points and did not miss a shot against Okla. Baptist. She had two assists at Kansas State.
She averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Circle HS and earned second-team All-State honors as a senior.
LAND OF THE GAULS
Forward Madison Ralston (Fr./Argyle, Texas) pulled three rebounds at Southwest Baptist. She scored seven points against Missouri Western. She had four points and three rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She scored six points against Central Missouri. She got her first career start against Central Oklahoma. She had five points in a 44 second span against Pittsburg State. She scored four points with four rebounds at Lindenwood. She had four rebounds at Lincoln. She scored a career high 12 points with five rebounds against Oklahoma Christian. She had six rebounds and two steals against Okla. Baptist. She scored six points against Southwestern Oklahoma. She scored three points with three rebounds at K-State. She had four rebounds in 24 minutes at Kansas.
She was a three-start recruit according to ESPN and averaged 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a senior to earn Texas Class 4A All-State honors. She averaged 11 points, five rebounds, three assists two steals and one block per game as she was named the Texas District 9-4A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior. She led the Eagles to three Class 4A state championships.
FROM THE VALLEY
Guard Brittany Kramer (Jr./Melvern, Kan.) scored four points against Northeastern State in White Auditorium. She was three of four from the line and had five points at Lincoln. She had a three-pointer and a rebound against Neb.-Kearney. She had a steal and an assist against Oklahoma Baptist. She hit her only three-pointer she took at Kansas State.
She had two offensive rebounds against Northeastern State last season. She 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 averaged 15.6 points per game in 2014-15 at Hesston College. She had 39 points including a six of eight performance from 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.
LEGACY
Guard Addie Lackey (Sr./Hillsboro, Kan.) is out for the season with a knee injury suffered in an October scrimmage.
She was an All-MIAA selection last season. She was ranked 15th in the MIAA in scoring and 12th in made three-pointers. She scored 20 points and made five three-pointers against Central Oklahoma. She scored 21 points at Washburn with five made threes in six attempts. She scored a career high 24 points at Southwest Baptist on nine of 14 shooting. She had 18 points against Pittsburg State. She scored 17 points on six of nine shooting at Baylor.
She scored 13 points in the 2016 Regional Championship game against Pittsburg State. She scored 14 points with five rebounds and three assists against Pittsburg State in the MIAA Championship Game. 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 had 21 points at Missouri Southern. She had 17 points at Kansas State.
She is eighth in career made three-pointers at Emporia State with 157 made triples. She has scored 1,114 points in 102 career games to rank 27th on the Lady Hornet all-time list. 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 scored 1,028 points and 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 (Sr./Holton, Kan.) is out for the season with a foot injury suffered during the preseason.
She was fifth in the MIAA in blocked shots, sixth in steals, ninth in offensive rebounding, and 13th in rebounding last year. She had ten rebounds, four points, three assists, two blocks and two steals against Pittsburg State in the regional semifinals. She tied her career high with four blocks against Pittsburg State and added ten points with nine rebounds. She scored a career high 24 points with eight rebounds against Washburn. She had 18 points against Lincoln. She had a career high 12 rebounds and six steals against Lubbock Christian. She scored 16 points with nine rebounds at Drury. She scored eight points with five rebounds, five assists and four steals at Baylor.
She scored five points with nine rebounds, two assists a block and a steal in the regional championship game against Pittsburg State in 2016. She pulled ten rebounds at Neb.-Kearney. She had 17 points and hit five three-pointers against Science & Arts.
As a freshman she had ten rebounds against Ft. Hays State in the MIAA Championship game. She scored 11 points with eight rebounds and four steals 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 95 career blocks to rank tenth on the Lady Hornets career list.
DALEY DOUBLE
Forward Daley Handy (So./Wichita, Kan.) is out for the season after suffering a knee injury during practice prior to the Kansas game.
She played in ten games for Wyoming last year after sitting out her freshman season with a knee injury.
She was a three-time All-League selection, while being named First Team All-State and Honorable Mention All-State during her career at Maize HS. She was named All-Metro, Co-League MVP and played in the KBCA All-Star Game. She helped her team to a 24-1 overall record and a State Runner-Up finish as a senior. as a junior, she averaged ten points, 5.2 rebounds and four assists. She helped her team to four league and Sub-State championships while the team finished second in the state in 2014, third in 2012 and fourth in 2013.
TOUGH ENOUGH
The MIAA is again leading the nation with a 85-29 (.746) record against non-conference foes with a 58-26 (.690) record against Division II schools this season. The league is 13-11 against the GAC and a perfect 13-0 against the Northern Sun this year. The Lady Hornets played the toughest schedule among MIAA teams and the fourth toughest in the nation this year as their opponents went a combined 375-274 (.578) on the season. The MIAA was a nation's best 90-30 (.750) in non-conference action last year with a 61-29 (.678) record against Division II schools. The MIAA was 12-6 (.667) against the NSIC and 12-4 (.750) against the GAC last year.
MIAA TOURNEY EXCELLENCE
Emporia State has won an unprecedented five straight MIAA Tournament Championships and an MIAA record 16 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 seven straight title games since 2011. They are the first team to be in seven straight championship games since Missouri Western appeared in seven straight from 1997-2003. Emporia State is 44-13 all-time in MIAA Tournament play with a 14-0 record in White Auditorium.
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 830 games. The Lady Hornets led the nation in scoring defense in 2000-01, at 50.6 points per game to rank 20th all-time in defense in NCAA Division II history.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Lady Hornets have topped the 100-point barrier 72 times and have eclipsed the 110 point mark 29 times in their history. Since 1997-98, the Lady Hornets are 287-3 (.990) when scoring at least 80 points. The first loss was to North Dakota, 87-81 in the 1999 Final Four, the second came at West Texas A&M, 86-83 in the 2009 NCAA South Central Regional Semifinals and the most recent was at Central Oklahoma 87-86 in the final regular season game this year. Emporia State was 167-22 (.884) in the previous 23 seasons when scoring at least 80 points. Conversely Emporia State is 156-2 (.987) all-time when holding opponents to 50 points or less. The 86-48 win over Northwest Missouri last year was the 91st time the Lady Hornets scored 80 or more and held their opponent to 50 or less. The 122-40 win over Kansas Christian was the 12th time they have scored 100 and held their opponent to 40 points or less.
BRING IT ON
The Lady Hornets are 82-51 (.617) against Top 25 teams since 1997-98. Emporia State is 34-15 (.694) in neutral site games with top 25 foes since 1997. The Lady Hornets are 29-12 (.707) in White Auditorium against Top 25 teams since 1997. Emporia State has 33 wins against Top 10 teams, including four victories against #1 ranked teams in the last six seasons. The Lady Hornets will play the toughest regular season schedule in the nation this season, with their opponents a combined 353-245 (.590) on the year.
RANKINGS
This is the 21st consecutive season the Lady Hornets have been in ranked in the Top 25 of the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll at least twice during a season. Emporia State was ranked #8 in the final 2016-17 WBCA Poll. Six of the teams in last year's NCAA Division II Central regional were ranked in the top 25 and seven total received votes on more than one ballot. 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 273 weeks since first appearing in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have been in the top ten for a Division II record 191 weeks.
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
Emporia State first earned a #1 national ranking by the WBCA in 2004-05, next in 2006-07, again after winning the 2009-10 national championship, they opened 2015-16 and held onto the spot through their first seven games and they were in the top spot for four games last season. 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 15 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the nation and their streak of 22 straight winning seasons is the longest active streak in the MIAA. Emporia State has made the NCAA Tournament 19 times in the last 21 years and their 40-17 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 they have advanced to four Final Fours since 1998.
The Lady Hornets have won seven MIAA regular season championships and nine MIAA Tournament championships. Emporia State has appeared in 14 of the last 20 MIAA Tournament Championship games and have made it to the semifinals in 20 of the last 21 seasons.
HOME COOKIN'
The Lady Hornets have won 279 of the last 306 (.912) games in White Auditorium. They are undefeated in postseason games in White Auditorium with a 14-0 record in MIAA Tournament play and a 6-0 record in the NCAA Tournament. 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 12 games to unranked NCAA teams in White Auditorium since 1997. The Lady Hornets are 427-95 (.818) overall since 1979 at home and hold the MIAA record for consecutive home wins with 62 set from 1997-2001. Emporia State is 11-7 against top ten teams in White Auditorium since 1995.
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 278 games. The Lady Hornets drew an average of 1,866 fans to their 16 home games on Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium during the 2016-17 season to rank fourth nationally. Emporia State averaged more than 23 teams that made the NCAA Division I Tournament, including Sweet 16 team Quinnipiac. They outdrew 272 NCAA Division I schools, including 14 from the "Power 5" conferences - six from the ACC, four from the Pac 12, two from the SEC and two from the Big 10. Emporia State had a season high 3,102 for their game against Washburn on Jan. 7.
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 20 years.
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 first or second team All-American honors at Emporia State, graduating and playing at least two years for the Lady Hornets. Kelly Moten is the next Lady Hornet eligible for the honor.
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.
MARCH MEANS SOMETHING
The Lady Hornets are 33-8 (.805) in March post season games under Jory Collins. Emporia State has made it to the championship game in 12 out of 13 post season tournaments under Collins, appearing in seven MIAA Tournament and six NCAA Regional Tournament Championship games, while making the semifinals at the Elite Eight in 2015. Emporia State is 84-31 (.730) all-time in MIAA and NCAA Tournament games.
NOT SUCH A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The host team for the NCAA Regional the Lady Hornets compete in has won the tournament only three in the last 13 years. The first eight years of the streak were in the South Central Region. Last year was just the fifth time the host team has advanced to the regional final in the last 13 years 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.
LADY HORNETS NCAA HISTORY
The Lady Hornets have made the NCAA Tournament 19 times in the last 21 years and their 40-18 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 14 times.
TRIFECTA
Emporia State is the first program in NCAA Division II history to lead the nation in attendance (2005), win a national championship (2010), and be honored with the top GPA in the nation (2017) in the WBCA Academic Top 25 list.
LADY HORNET SUCCESS ON THE COURT...
The Lady Hornets have the best record in MIAA play in the 21st century. Emporia State is 274-84 (.765) in MIAA play since the 2000 season and 476-126 (.791) 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 307-85 (.783) in MIAA play and 539-130 (.806) overall. The Lady Hornets have been ranked in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll 191 times, the most of any NCAA Division II school. Emporia State has been to 19 NCAA Tournaments, made the Regional Championship or "Sweet 16" 14 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 nine 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 seven straight MIAA Tournament Championships games, 14 of the last 20 MIAA Tournament championship games, made it to the semifinals in 20 of the last 21 MIAA Tournaments and won nine tourney titles.
...AND IN THE CLASSROOM
Emporia State sits atop the 2016-17 Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Academic Top 25 list. The Lady Hornets had a school record 3.744 team GPA during the 2016-17 academic year and had a 3.69 GPA last fall. Addie Lackey was named CoSIDA Academic All-District VII last year. Lady Hornets have been honored as Academic All-Americans four 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.
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. A total of six different Lady Hornets have been named MIAA Freshman of the Year.
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 seven straight appearances on the MIAA Network as part of the conference championship game.
TIP-INS
• The Lady Hornets have won 20 games in 15 straight seasons, 20 times in the last 21 years and 25 times in the program's 38 year history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 25 games 13 times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets have won 30 games four times in school history.
• The Lady Hornets are 901-391 (.697) overall in their 42nd year of action and are just the eighth NCAA Division II program with 900 wins.
• 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 ten of the last 20 MIAA MVPs, six of the last 16 Freshmen of the Year and have won two MIAA Defensive Player of the Year awards since 2011-12.
STREAKS AND SUCH
•The Lady Hornets have held their last 830 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 36 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 22 straight seasons.
•The Lady Hornets 62 game winning streak from Feb. 27, 1997 through Jan. 13, 2001 is an MIAA record and the fifth longest in NCAA Division II history.
•The Lady Hornets have won at least 20 games in 15 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in MIAA history and the longest active streak in the nation but will need to win the MIAA tournament to keep that streak alive this season.
•The Lady Hornets ended the longest winning streak (at the time) 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 six straight regional championship games and have made it to the regional final in the last seven 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.
MIAA TOURNAMENT STUFF
The Lady Hornets are the most successful team in MIAA Tournament history. Their 44-13 (.772) record are the most wins and the best winning percentage in MIAA Tournament history.
The Lady Hornets are 36-6 (.857) all-time when playing as the higher seed in the MIAA Tournament. They are 8-7 (.533) as a seed underdog with a 7-5 (.583) record in Kansas City as the underdog.
The Lady Hornets are the only team to make it to Kansas City every year the MIAA Tournament has been held in Kansas City.
Emporia State has not been the #1 seed since 2009 and have defeated the top seed in four of the last five tournaments.
The Lady Hornets have won two tournaments as the #2 seed, one as a #3 and two as a #4 during their current run after winning four straight as the #1 seed from 1998-2001.
The #1 seed has won 20 of the 35 MIAA Tournaments but none since 2012.
Last year Central Oklahoma as a #5 seed became the first team to advance to the MIAA Tournament Championship game after playing an on campus First Round Game.
The only #5 seed to win the MIAA Tournament was Northwest Missouri in 2008 when they defeated #4 seed Missouri Southern, #1 seed Washburn and #3 seed Southwest Baptist all in Kansas City.
The only #6 seed to win the MIAA Tournament was Missouri Southern in 1996 when they defeated #3 seed Mo.-Rolla (now Mo. S&T) on the road, #7 seed Missouri Western at home and #4 seed Southwest Baptist on the road.
END GAME
The Lady Hornets are 343-8 (.977) when leading at the 5:00 mark since the start of the 2004-05 season and are 509-14 (.973) since 1997 with a lead at the 5:00 mark.
