It’s a rivalry unlike any other for Emporia State women’s basketball fans.
That’s because Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. home game won’t renew a love-hate relationship with a team, it will renew one with a coach.
“It’s really been a rivalry more with coach (Dave) Slifer, wherever he’s been,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “I think that’s something that he enjoys and we enjoy. The games are always really competitive.”
Perhaps even too competitive as of late.
Though he struggled against ESU in his early years with Missouri Western, Slifer has posted five consecutive coaching victories in White Auditorium — an astounding of number considering the Lady Hornets have won 139 of their last 149 games at home.
Central won last year’s contest, 63-60, in Emporia.
“(Slifer) does a good job,” Schneider said. “He’s been tremendously successful wherever he’s been.”
Meanwhile, the No. 8 ESU women will look to post their third consecutive victory after getting a pair of difficult road wins against Pittsburg State and Truman in the last week.
The Lady Hornets have not played at home since hosting Southwest Baptist on Dec. 30 of the last calendar year.
“Hopefully just the excitement of being back home after a tough road stretch will pay dividends for us,” Schneider said.
Though the Lady Hornets weren’t always pretty in their 75-56 win over PSU and 64-57 triumph over Truman, they were effective in getting the job done and keeping pace at the top of the competitive MIAA standings.
ESU enters the game with a 4-1 record in the MIAA, with its only league loss coming on the road against No. 2 Washburn on Jan. 3.
“Every game’s a championship game, and that’s really the truth in our conference,” ESU junior Michelle Stueve said. “It’s so tough, if you get beat one night, it may decide what position you’re going to get in the conference tournament and the regional tournament.”
Central is led in scoring by a pair of players in the backcourt.
Lindsey Maple leads the team, averaging 13.9 points per game, with teammate Kim Battle right behind with a 12.4-point average.
“Their team this year is very guard-oriented, which is going to bring a challenge for us on the defensive end,” Schneider said.
That should especially be the case for ESU without starter Carolyn Dorsey, who will sit out her third consecutive game with a PCL injury in her knee. The senior has ordered a brace and hopes to get back into the lineup in the next few weeks.
All-American Michelle Stueve paces ESU, averaging a double-double with 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She scored 22 points and grabbed 16 boards in ESU’s victory over Truman on Wednesday.