Lady Hornets get 1st-round match up with streaking Texas A&M-Commerce
By Jesse Newell
Monday, March 5, 2007
The Emporia State women’s basketball team has a new mission after receiving its seeding for the NCAA Division II women’s basketball Tournament next week: Try to knock off one of the hottest teams in the country.
As the No. 5 seed in the South Central Regional, ESU will take on fourth-seeded Texas A&M-Commerce (25-8) on Friday at St. Joseph, Mo., in the first round of the tournament.
The Lions have won eight consecutive games, posting three victories in a row this past weekend to take the Lone Star Conference tourney title.
Commerce also won the Lone Star Conference’s North Division with a 10-2 league record.
“They’ve always been regarded as one of the most talented and athletic teams in the region,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “They’re really putting it together.”
It will be the Commerce’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Lions have a dangerous duo in guards Kanani Marshall and Britney Jordan.
Marshall, who Schneider said was a legitimate All-American candidate, was named the Lone Star North’s Player of the Year after averaging 18.1 points per game. She was especially deadly from beyond the arc, hitting 132 of 301 three-point attempts (44 percent).
Jordan averages 18.2 points per contest, as the two combine for 47.8 percent of the Lion scoring.
“We’ve got a challenge,” Schneider said, “and hopefully we’ll rise to the occasion.”
Missouri Western (29-3) will host the regional as the No. 1 seed, looming as a possible second-round opponent for ESU.
West Texas A&M (27-4) earned the two seed, followed by Washburn (27-3), Commerce, ESU, Angelo State (17-11) Northwest Missouri State (18-11) and Montana State-Billings (21-9).
Schneider said making it out of the region would be a tough task for any team, especially with Western and Washburn in the group.
“To get to the Elite Eight,” Schneider said, “they’re two really challenging opponents for anybody.”
St. Joseph is 156 miles northeast of Emporia, and tickets will be available beginning on Tuesday.
The ESU men’s team plays in Warrensburg, Mo., on Saturday, taking on Southeastern Oklahoma.