Michelle Stueve raised her right arm while running toward the bench, while Carolyn Dorsey pointed a single finger in the air before finding a teammate to hug.
This wasn’t a typical exhibition victory celebration.
Then again, this wasn’t a typical exhibition effort either.
There were no more questions about whether the Emporia State women’s basketball team could compete with Big 12-opponent and reigning WNIT-champion Kansas State after Sunday’s game in Bramlage Coliseum.
There were only answers — and joy — after the No. 3-ranked Lady Hornets shocked the Wildcats with a 64-59 victory.
“I’m happy for the girls because obviously they’re very excited,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “It’s a big deal to them.”
ESU overcame adversity down the stretch to take its first-ever victory against K-State.
Stueve hit a step-back jumper to give ESU a 59-53 lead with 4:10 remaining, but the Lady Hornets saw their lead disappear over the next 2 1/2 minutes.
KSU went on a 6-0 run, tying it without the benefit of a field goal. Marlies Gipson, Claire Coggins and Kimberly Dietz all hit a pair of free throws to knot the score at 59 with 1:48 left.
“It was nice to see our kids fight,” Schneider said.
Stueve used a hustle play to put ESU back on top.
After missing a three, the junior rushed to the loose ball and was fouled on her way back to the basket.
She hit both free throws to give ESU a 61-59 advantage.
Following a Gipson miss, ESU’s Denisa Svarova grabbed the board and hit one of two free throws to push the lead to three.
K-State missed on a pair of golden opportunities to tie it with less than a minute to play.
Coggins, who shot 38.9 percent from three-point range a year ago, missed a wide-open attempt from the top of the circle. After a Gipson offensive rebound, Coggins received another look that was just as open. Again, she clanged the shot off the rim.
Stueve came away with the rebound, and freshman Cassondra Boston was fouled with 19.4 seconds left.
In her first start, Boston capped off her impressive day. She calmly made both free throws, sealing the game for ESU and sending the several hundred ESU fans into a frenzy.
“She got off to a tough start, but that’s to be expected,” Schneider said. “She fought through it and ended up doing what point guards are supposed to do at the end of game, and that’s step up and make foul shots.”
Boston did much more than that in her Lady Hornet debut. She finished with 21 points, making 3-of-7 three-pointers and all 10 of her free-throw attempts.
“At first I was pretty nervous, but I got into the flow of things,” Boston said. “I just started to play and do what I had to do to help our team win.”
The freshman led all scorers, recording 32 minutes at the point-guard spot.
“Without a doubt, she’s exceeded our expectations,” Schneider said. “We thought she’d compete for a lot of minutes at the position, but she’s been the clear-cut favorite to be the starter and a leader of our team.”
Things looked like they might get away from the Lady Hornets early.
In the first 11 minutes, ESU had nine turnovers and only eight points, as KSU took a 21-8 lead on a layup by Coggins.
“We were real close to probably getting blown out there for a second,” Schneider said. “I thought our kids really stayed together.”
ESU responded later with a 13-0 run, with seven of those points coming after Stueve picked up her second foul and was sent to the bench.
A Carolyn Dorsey free throw gave the Lady Hornets a brief 24-23 lead. During the stretch, KSU was held without a point for six minutes and 46 seconds.
The Wildcats also were held without a field goal for the final six minutes of the game.
“I just look at this as we just competed against a very good basketball team,” KSU coach Deb Patterson said. “We were exposed in a lot of areas in which we need to get better.”
One of those areas was rebounding. Despite having a height disadvantage, ESU dominated the boards, outrebounding K-State 40-29.
Stueve once again had a strong effort for ESU.
The junior finished with a double-double, recording 18 points and 13 rebounds in 32 minutes of play.
“She’s very impressive and a great competitor and doesn’t allow herself to get rattled even when maybe she has reason to be frustrated,” Patterson said. “She doesn’t let it take her out of her game.”
K-State did play without the services of guard Shalee Lenning, who sat out with an injury.
Though a victory over a Division I school is rare, Schneider downplayed the win’s significance.
“We played well. I was happy with how we played,” Schneider said. “I think our kids are mature enough to understand that it’s nice and it’s fun for today, but we’re going to go back to work tomorrow, whether we won or lost.”
The Lady Hornets will wrap up exhibition play next Monday at home against Tabor.
“Definitely this game isn’t a downer for us,” Stueve said, “but we can’t get too excited about it.”