Hornet women to meet grand valley State in battle of Superpowers
By Jesse Newell
Monday, December 18, 2006
The Emporia State Lady Hornets might have made it through finals week, but they still have their biggest test of the season scheduled for today.
No. 2 ESU women will take on No. 3 Grand Valley State (Mich.) at 4:30 p.m. today in what should be a colossal matchup at the Northern Kentucky Classic in Highland Heights, Ky.
Grand Valley State is the reigning national champion in Division II women’s basketball.
“It’s definitely something we’ve been looking forward to,” ESU junior Michelle Stueve said.
Both teams already have been ranked No. 1 this season. Both made last year’s Elite Eight.
And now both teams, which each come into today’s game with a single loss, will have the opportunity to meet one another without playoff brackets and postseason upsets ruining their anticipated meeting.
“We wish we would have had a chance to play them last year in the championship,” Stueve said. “We’re really looking forward to the matchup.”
ESU should return to full strength today, bringing back a player it had been missing all season.
Senior forward Genae Glasper — who was ruled academically ineligible for the first semester — has been cleared to play for the second semester, beginning with today’s game against Grand Valley State. The 6-foot-2 senior forward adds depth to an already talented frontline, as she averaged 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game last year.
Grand Valley State won its first women’s National Championship last season, defeating American International, 58-52, in the title game. Two rounds earlier, American International defeated ESU in the first round of the Elite Eight, 86-79.
GVSU ended its year with a 33-3 record.
The Lady Lakers are off to a similar start this season, posting a 9-1 mark through their first 10 games to earn a No. 3 national ranking. Their only loss was a 64-62 setback to Bellarmine on Nov. 26.
ESU, meanwhile, has won two straight and is coming off its best performance of the season against Fort Hays State on Dec. 9. In that game, the Lady Hornets forced 28 turnovers in a convincing 89-58 victory that gave the Lady Tigers their first loss of the year.
“Hopefully, we keep that up,” ESU freshman guard Lacy Corker said, “and have intensity and play our game.”
The contest will feature a contrast in styles, as ESU’s fast-paced offense will go against GVSU’s vaunted defense. The Lady Hornets average an MIAA-high 86.9 points per game, while the Lady Lakers average just 66.7 points per contest. Only one GVSU opponent has scored 60 points so far this season.
A pair of guards lead GVSU in scoring, as 5-foot-10 junior Crystal Zick averages 16.4 points per game, while 5-8 senior Erika Ryskamp contributes 13.1 points per contest. Both shoot better than 43 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
The All-American Stueve leads ESU, averaging 18.5 points per game.
The Lady Hornets will face Northern Michigan on Tuesday in the Northern Kentucky Classic.