Redemption: ESU post players dominate in rout over Jennies
By Jesse Newell
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Casey Henningsen couldn’t help but hope for a good performance against Central Missouri on Monday, especially after the Lady Hornets had battled through so many close ones in a row.
“I told my Dad before the game I wished we just had one of those games where we came out and seemed to hit on all cylinders offensively,” Henningsen said. “It felt like it’d been awhile.”
After asking, Henningsen received, as she and the other ESU post players stepped up big in the Lady Hornets’ 106-62 victory Monday night.
“I should tell him what I want more often,” Henningsen said with a laugh. “It seemed to work.”
It was the most points ESU has ever scored against UCM and the second-worst loss in the Jennies’ history.
The Lady Hornets also avenged their 65-59 setback to Central nine days ago, receiving a much-improved effort this time from Henningsen and the rest of the front line.
After being singled out for their poor play by coach Brandon Schneider in the previous loss to Central, Henningsen, Genae Glasper and Denisa Svarova combined for 38 points this time and also helped ESU to a 37-28 rebounding advantage.
In the first matchup, the three combined for 12 points against the smaller Jennies as UCM out-rebounded ESU, 42-39.
“I was pretty hard on them, in film especially,” Schneider said. “It’s nice to see them handle it with maturity, and then respond to that.”
ESU was never challenged Monday, building an early advantage to run away from UCM.
The Lady Hornets jumped out to a 19-0 lead, continuing their strong play after rallying from 16 points down to defeat No. 3 Washburn, 74-67, on Saturday.
Central’s first points came at the 11:02 mark on a 3-pointer from Stephenie Cook.
Meanwhile, ESU received a spark from a more self-assured Svarova, as the 6-foot-5 forward put in back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Lady Hornets six points during the stretch.
“I think that she’s an enormous difference-maker for us,” Schneider said. “When she’s having fun and playing with confidence, it gives our team a tremendous boost.”
After playing one of her best defensive games Saturday against Washburn, Svarova re-established her offensive game on Monday. The senior finished 5-of-7 from the floor, scoring 12 points and adding seven rebounds.
Svarova had just four points in the teams’ first matchup.
“I wanted to come out and play better than I did against them last time, because they’re a bunch of guards — 6-1, 6-2. I’m the biggest post player,” Svarova said. “I tried to just play my game and not think about it too much.”
Led by five points from Cassondra Boston, ESU tacked on a 14-0 run toward the end of the first half, taking a 53-21 advantage into break.
The Jennies turned the ball over 18 times in the first half.
Central cut the deficit to 70-45 at the 11:12 mark, but ESU responded by holding the Jennies without a field goal for the next 6 minutes.
Over that time span, the Lady Hornets went on separate 13-0 and 8-0 runs, rebuilding a 91-49 cushion.
Shelby Chilson notched ESU’s 100th point on a free throw with 2:48 remaining.
Every ESU player scored, led by Michelle Stueve’s 22 points. Henningsen added 18 on 8-of-9 shooting, while Boston hit 17.
The Lady Hornets made 42 of 71 shots from the floor overall (59 percent). ESU also outscored UCM in the paint, 54-10, and on fast-break points, 21-0.
“I think everybody on our team had better confidence,” Svarova said. “I think you saw that today.”
The ESU victory ended UCM coach Dave Slifer’s streak of five consecutive wins at White Auditorium.
ESU will have a quick turnaround again on Wednesday, taking on Truman at home. It will be Senior Night for six Lady Hornets.
EMPORIA STATE women 106, CENTRAL MO. 62
Central Missouri 21 41 — 62
No. 9 Emporia State 53 53 — 106
CENTRAL MISSOURI (14-11, 7-9 MIAA)
Millham 6-11 0-0 15; Fromm 4-8 2-2 14; Schoenfeld 1-5 6-6 8; Battle 1-2 5-6 7; Jones 1-6 2-2 4; Cook 1-4 0-0 3; Vincent 1-3 0-0 3; Hicks 0-1 2-2 2; Bitsoi 1-2 0-0 2; Maple 1-2 0-0 2; Brooks 1-4 0-2 2; Ross 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-48 17-20 62.
EMPORIA STATE (19-6, 12-4 MIAA)
Stueve 8-17 3-4 22; Henningsen 8-9 2-2 18; Boston 7-10 0-0 17; Svarova 5-7 0-0 12; Glasper 4-4 0-2 8; Leiker 3-9 0-0 7; Corker 2-2 2-2 6; Dorsey1-5 3-5 5; Augustyn 2-2 0-0 5; Chilson 1-1 1-2 3; Stuart 1-5 0-0 2; Commons 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 42-71 12-19 106.
3-point goals — Central Missouri 9-18 (Fromm, 4-6; Millham 3-4; Vincent 1-2; Cook 1-4; Brooks 0-1; Battle 0-1); Emporia State 10-24 (Stueve 3-9; Boston 3-4; Svarova 2-2; Leiker 1-4; Augustyn 1-1; Stuart 0-2; Dorsey 0-2). Fouled out — Central Missouri: None; Emporia State: None. Rebounds — Central Missouri 28 (Jones 6), Emporia State 37 (Svarova 7; Stueve 7). Assists — Central Missouri 13 (Millham 3), Emporia State 24 (Corker 6). Total fouls — Central Missouri 17, Emporia State 18. Att — 1970.