Emporia State women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider said there’s one certainty entering Saturday’s game against Southwest Baptist.
The Lady Hornets are prepared for the challenges upcoming in conference play.
“I think we’re going to go into the MIAA as battle-tested as you can be,” Schneider said, “and hopefully more than the other teams we’re going to play.”
After facing a difficult non-conference slate — which included games away from White Auditorium against Regis, Metro State and No. 2 Grand Valley State — ESU starts the league season in earnest on Saturday against SBU. Tipof• is set for 1:30 p.m. at White Auditorium.
The Lady Hornets had five days o• vacation before getting back to practice on Dec. 26 — a rest Schneider said many o• his players needed.
“I think it’s just long enough to spend some really important time with family,” Schneider said, “and take a mental break as well as a physical break.”
A focal point this week for Schneider has been getting forward Genae Glasper back into the rotation.
The 6-foot-2 senior, who averaged 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds last season, returned Dec. 18 against Grand Valley State after being declared academically ineligible for the first semester.
Her size and athleticism should allow Schneider more flexibilty with his lineup.
“She’s probably our most versatile defender in that she can guard out on the perimeter and she can defend inside,” Schneider said. “She’s a terrific rebounder and makes a lot o• hustle plays.”
The Lady Bearcats have exceeded expectations so far this season, entering the game with an 8-2 record despite being preseason picked at No. 8 in the conference along with Fort Hays State.
Much o• that success has come from the return o• Amber Wheeler.
The 5-8 senior guard is averaging 14.2 points per game despite not starting a contest this season. She was the MIAA Most Valuable Player in 2003-04 before being held back by injuries.
“It’s seemed to me that she’s picked up right where she left off,” Schneider said, “and is definitely one o• the better talents we’ve got in this conference.”
ESU is led by Michelle Stueve’s 16 points per game, though Casey Henningsen has been the offensive force as o• late. The 6-1 senior has been the leading scorer for the Lady Hornets in the last four games, averaging 20.3 points over that stretch.
On the men’s side, No. 18 ESU will have another chance to prove itsel• against in conference with a matchup against SBU.
The Bearcats were preseason picked third in the conference — behind Central Missouri and Fort Hays State — but haven’t lived up to their high ranking as o• yet. SBU comes in with a 6-4 record, including an 81-80 loss to start the conference season at home against Northwest Missouri State.
Meanwhile, ESU enters after playing a sloppy game against Friends on Thursday. ESU won 83-71 but struggled offensively against the Falcons’ man defense.
“They came out with a hard fight,” ESU guard Donta Watson said. “We retreated a little bit, but we were able to handle it enough to pull out the victory.”
“We just have to come out stronger,” ESU forward Ed Desir said, “than we did (Thursday) night.”
SBU is led by senior guard Jason Jemison, who averages 18.9 points per game.
Watson is the top scorer for ESU, posting 19.4 points per contest.
The Hornets will look to keep their record perfect. With the victory against Friends on Thursday, ESU improved to 10-0 for the first time since the 1926-27 season.
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