LADY HORNETS OVER COME 13 POINT DEFICIT ON WAY TO 77-68 WIN OVER MISSOURI WESTERN

February 20, 2021-The Lady Hornets turned a 13 point first quarter deficit into a nine point win as they defeated Missouri Western 77-68 on Saturday night in White Auditorium.
 
Emporia State jumped out to an 8-4 lead with 7:49 left in the opening quarter on a pair of free throws from Tre'Zure Jobe.  They would be the last points for the Lady Hornets for over four minutes as the Griffons scored 11 straight points to take a 15-8 lead before Fredricka Sheats hit one of two free throws with 3:37 left in the half to break the run.  The Lady Hornets would actually go one for 14 from the field over a 7:31 span while the Griffons hit eight straight field goals in that span as they took a 25-12 lead with 1:16 left in the quarter.  They traded three point baskets in the last minute as Missouri Western led 28-15 after the first period.
 
Emporia State was just five of 20 (.250) from the field and three of six from the charity stripe while Missouri Western made 11 of 13 shots and five of six from the free throw line in the opening ten minutes.
 
Daley Handy scored on a put back and Jobe hit a three-pointer to start the second quarter for Emporia State. Brionna Budgets scored on a pull up jumper with 8:20 left to give the Griffons a 30-20 lead.  The Lady Hornets then went on a 10-0 run and tied the game on two Ehlaina Hartman free throws with 4:34 left in the half.  A three-pointer by Jobe with under a minute left game Emporia State a 40-35 lead but Asia McCoy hit two free throws with 36 seconds left to make it 40-37 at the break.
 
The shooting percentages flipped in the second quarter with Emporia State connecting on nine of 16 from the field, three of six from behind the arc and hitting all four free throws while Missouri Western made only three of 11 shots from the field in the quarter. 
 
The game stayed tight through most of the third quarter with the Griffons leading 53-51 at the media timeout with 4:50 left.  Karsen Schultz hit a three-pointer with 28 seconds left in the period to give the Lady Hornets their biggest lead to that point at 63-57 headed to the fourth.
 
Jobe hit a step back jumper to start the scoring in fourth quarter and Hartman knocked in a three with 9:06 left to give Emporia State a 68-57 lead. The Lady Hornets took their biggest lead of the night at 74-59 when Hartman hit a three-pointer with 5:19 remaining.  Emporia State would coast from there to the 77-68 final score.
 
Fredricka Sheats had another double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds as four of five starters scored in double figures.  Ehlaina Hartman added 20 points with four rebounds, three steals and two blocks while Tre'Zure Jobe scored 18 with six assists and Karsen Schultz netted 13 points.
The Lady Hornets next action will be Thursday, February 25 when they travel to Pittsburg State.  Tip-off from John Lance Arena is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
NOTES:
The Lady Hornets finished the regular season 9-2 at White Auditorium.
Graduate student Daley Handy was recognized after the game as part of Senior Night. She has already graduated with her bachelor's degree and will be getting her master's in May, so she will not be taking advantage of the COVID year.
The final 4:18 of the game was conducted with only two officials after referee Allyn Richardson collapsed.  He was conscious and alert as he was assisted off the court.