ESU women top Panhandle, 80-58
Lady Hornets finish 2-0 at Hoop ’n’ Surf Classic in Hawaii
By Jesse Newell
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Emporia State women’s basketball team has completed the business part of its trip to Hawaii.
The Lady Hornets should be able to rest and relax a little easier the next two days after finishing the Hoop ’n’ Surf Classic with a 2-0 record, defeating Oklahoma Panhandle, 80-58, on Tuesday in Honolulu.
“We came down here and did what we were supposed to do: win some games,” ESU forward Ida Edwards said. “Now it’s time for a little fun.”
In only her second game with ESU, Edwards delivered for the Lady Hornets when they needed her most.
ESU led 39-29 at halftime but committed turnovers on its first four possessions of the second half.
Quickly, the advantage was down to 39-38.
“We went through a little drought,” Edwards said. “We had a couple turnovers in a row. I had to step up.”
The forward did just that.
Edwards scored baskets on ESU’s next three trips, helping to rebuild a seven-point ESU advantage.
“Things weren’t going well, but they were allowing us to catch it in the post,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “We were able to find her, and then she made some good decisions and good plays.”
Edwards said she benefited from getting better position inside.
“I knew I could dominate down there,” Edwards said. “They were undersized down there, so I posted a little harder, and the guards got me the ball, and I made some shots.”
Michelle Stueve followed with a steal and layup to give the Lady Hornets an 8-0 run and also a 47-38 cushion.
Panhandle (5-5) didn’t get any closer than four the rest of the way.
For the third straight game, ESU benefited from a good shooting night. The Lady Hornets finished 33-of-59 from the floor (59 percent) and have shot at least 52 percent in each of their last three contests.
The good shooting touch was once again enough to overcome a large number of miscues. ESU finished with 27 turnovers Tuesday after committing 29 turnovers Monday against Shaw.
“We’re just giving the ball away too much right now,” Schneider said. “Tonight, we faced a team that doubled us and really dug the ball out of the post, and our post players were a little careless with it.”
Forwards Alli Volkens, Allie Renberg and Edwards, who combined for 44 points, also combined for 20 turnovers.
“After this Christmas break, the (turnovers) will be way down,” Edwards said. “That’s our biggest problem right now is turnovers, but we’ll get better at it.”
ESU dominated the boards, out-rebounding Panhandle 49-27.
Stueve continued her solid play, finishing with 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting.
Edwards ended with 19 points, with 15 of those coming in the second half when she hit 7 of 11 shots.
Renberg added a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
ESU (7-2) will have a while to enjoy the victory. The Lady Hornets will not play again until a Jan. 2 matchup at Fort Hays State.
Hoop ’n’ Surf Classic
Emporia State women 80, Okla. Panhandle 59
Tuesday at Honolulu
No. 14 ESU 39 41 — 80
Okla. Panhandle 29 30 — 59
EMPORIA STATE (7-2)
Michelle Stueve 11-17 0-0 25, Ida Edwards 9-16 1-1 19, Allie Renberg 8-11 2-3 18, Alli Volkens 2-2 2-3 7, Andrea Leiker 1-8 2-2 5, Bree Kisner 1-1 0-0 3, Jamie Augustyn 1-2 0-0 3, Becky Zabel 0-0 0-0 0, Lacy Corker 0-2 0-1 0. Totals 33-59 7-10 80.
OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE (5-5)
Jasmine Williams 5-6 4-5 14, Cherrelle Tillis 4-17 0-0 9, Alisha Sladek 2-9 1-2 7, Ro Wilson 3-8 1-2 7, Yadira Ortega 2-3 0-0 6, Sarah Polson 2-10 0-0 5, Megan Hamilton 2-7 0-0 5, Connie Maas 1-4 0-0 3, Ceara Brown 1-3 1-3 3. Totals 22-67 7-12 59.
3-point goals — Emporia State 7-16 (Stueve 3-6, Kisner 1-1, Volkens 1-1, Leiker 1-6, Augustyn 1-1, Renberg 0-1), Oklahoma Panhandle 8-25 (Sladek 2-5, Ortega 2-2, Maas 1-2, Hamilton 1-6, Tillis 1-3, Polson 1-7). Fouled out — Emporia State: Volkens; Oklahoma Panhandle: Williams. Rebounds — Emporia State 49 (Renberg 11), Oklahoma Panhandle 27 (Maas, Tillis 5). Assists — Emporia State 15 (Corker 5), Oklahoma Panhandle 13 (Maas 3). Total fouls — Emporia State 14, Oklahoma Panhandle 16.