LADY HORNET COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT

December 11, 2021-The Lady Hornets battled back from a 14 point deficit but Kelsey Johnson hit two free throws with 0.3 seconds left to give Central Oklahoma a 74-72 win on Saturday in Edmond, Okla.
 
The game started out extremely tight with seven ties and ten lead changes through the first quarter and a half of action. The Bronchos went on an 8-0 run to take a 36-29 lead midway through the second quarter.  UCO would extend the lead to eight with 1:07 left in the half but Kylee Scheer and Emily Weathers scored the final five points of the half to pull Emporia State within 44-40 at the break.
 
The Bronchos used a 10-0 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 56-42 with 4:05 left in the third quarter.  Tre'Zure Jobe got a steal and fed Kali Martin to start an 8-0 run by Emporia State.  Fredricka Sheats hit back to back three pointers to cap the run and pull the Lady Hornets within 56-50 with 1:12 left in the third. A Kelsey Johnson layup with eight seconds left sent UCO to the fourth with a 58-50 lead.
 
The Bronchos went up by six on a Jaci Littell three-pointer that forced Emporia State into a timeout with 5:04 left.  Karsen Schultz hit a three out of the time out and Jobe followed with back to back threes to tie the game at 65 with 3:17 left.  Schultz got a hoop and harm with 2:13 left to give the Lady Hornets a 68-65 lead. Schultz connected on two free throws with 1:37 left as Emporia State took a 70-67 lead. 
 
Johnson scored inside for UCO with 42.2 seconds left before Jobe put Emporia State back up by three at 72-69 with 22.0 seconds left.  Johnson scored and was fouled with 18.5 seconds left to tie the game at 72.  Sheats missed a three-pointer in the corner and UCO called timeout with 1.5 seconds left to advance the ball.  The Bronchos inbounded to Johnson who took a dribble across the lane and a foul was called as the buzzer sounded.  After a review it was determined that 0.3 was on the clock when the fourth foul was called.  Johnson was awarded two free throws and hit both to give the Bronchos a 74-72 win. 
 
Karsen Schultz led Emporia State with a career high 22 points while Fredricka Sheats added 19 points.  They were the only Lady Hornets in double figures as Tre'Zure Jobe was held to a season low eight points, all coming in the final 4:03 of the game.  Kylee Scheer and Christina Walsh each had career highs with seven points. Emily Weathers led ESU with eight rebounds while Laura Garcia-Laffitte tied her career high with seven boards.
 
The Lady Hornets will return to White Auditorium for their final two games before break, starting with Northeastern State on December 18. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.