Casey Henningsen knows that Emporia State’s 64-59 exhibition victory over Kansas State created quite a buzz in the community last week.
“Hopefully with the win we did get some people curious,” the ESU forward said, “so they’ll come and check us out.”
The first chance for Lady Hornet fans to do that will be tonight, as No. 3 ESU takes on Tabor at White Auditorium. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
The preseason game will be ESU’s final tune-up before the season-opener Friday against Cameron in the Candlewood Suites Classic at White Auditorium.
It has been eight days since the Lady Hornets defeated the Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum.
“We’re definitely ready to get out there,” ESU guard Carolyn Dorsey said. “It’s gametime again, and there’s nothing more exciting than that.”
ESU has hardly taken it easy since its upset victory last week.
After studying tape, coach Brandon Schneider highlighted a number of areas where the Lady Hornets could improve.
“We felt pretty good with our defense, but our offense wasn’t anywhere close to where we wanted it to be,” Henningsen said. “We’ve really worked on some timing.”
Schneider also hasn’t allowed his team to get too high on itself despite winning for the first time ever at Kansas State.
“We know it doesn’t really mean anything,” Dorsey said. “It was an exhibition game. We just kind of set the bar with that game.”
The challenge should be much different against Tabor tonight.
After defeating a Division-I team, ESU drops down to play an NAIA squad in its final exhibition outing.
“I think we’re going to get out there and still show the same intensity and enthusiasm that we showed at K-State,” Dorsey said. “We’re going to try to work on playing defense for a full 40 minutes, just like we would if it was a Division-I team.”
The Bluejays enter as anything but a cupcake. The team is No. 15 in the NAIA preseason rankings and is picked to finish first in the KCAC conference after posting a 28-5 record last season.
Tabor is led by returning All-American forward Donya Anderson, who has earned the league rebounding title two consecutive years. Junior Stacie Herman also is back after leading the team in scoring last season. The 5-foot-6 guard has gained All-Conference honors in both her seasons with the Bluejays.
“They’re going to want to come in here and compete, just like we did at K-State,” Henningsen said. “We’ve got to be ready for that, and we’ve got to use it as a chance to get better, no matter who we’re playing.”
It will be the first chance for the home crowd to see ESU freshman Cassondra Boston. The point guard had an impressive debut, putting up a team-high 21 points against K-State.
ESU will have to adjust to being thin at the post for a few more weeks, as 6-foot-2 forward Genae Glasper was ruled academically ineligible for the first semester.
An extended three-point line has been placed on the White Auditorium court and will be used in tonight’s game. The change is an experimental rule being tested in women’s exhibition games.