LAWRENCE — Emporia State committed 27 turnovers, shot 31 percent and played against a Division-I opponent in Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse.
So how exactly did the Lady Hornets get themselves to overtime — later losing 74-64 to KU on Thursday — in a exhibition game that for all the world seemed like it should have been lost early on?
A little bit of defense, combined with good free-throw shooting and a great individual effort from point guard Cassondra Boston did the trick.
“I thought our kids showed a lot of heart,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said, “and continued to compete every single possession.”
Boston finished with 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting. She also made eight of her 10 free-throw attempts.
The sophomore also did her best to pull ESU back after a dreadful start.
The Lady Hornets — starting three new players — had turnovers on their first six possessions.
ESU didn’t attempt its first field goal until 4 minutes, 51 seconds into the game.
“I know that I had a lot of those turnovers,” Boston said. “A lot of it was that we were having problems getting into the offense, and that has a lot to do with us learning how to play together.”
KU added a 9-0 run to take a 23-5 lead with 10:54 to go in the half.
It was then the Lady Hornets started to chip away.
ESU held KU scoreless for 6 minutes and 12 seconds in the first half, going on an 11-0 run during that stretch to make it 27-21.
The Lady Hornets would close the deficit to 31-26 at halftime despite making just six field goals.
“Our defense kept us in it,” Schneider said. “That’s something that we spend a lot of time working on.”
Boston almost single-handedly lifted ESU to the victory in the second half.
With little offensive movement around her, the sophomore created her own shot and scored 12 of ESU’s 17 points during a six-minute stretch, giving the Lady Hornets their first lead at 51-50 with 2:46 left.
“I was coming off picks, and I just felt like I had the shot, so I took it,” Boston said.
ESU had a chance to win it in regulation.
With the game tied at 55, the Lady Hornets had a fresh shot clock and the ball with 31 seconds remaining, but KU’s Nicollette Smith came up with a steal.
Her shot to win at the end of regulation came up short, and KU’s Taylor McIntosh lost control of the rebound as time expired.
Michelle Stueve scored the first basket of overtime, but KU’s Danielle McCray took over after that.
Her defender, ESU’s Becky Zabel, fouled out 25 seconds into overtime.
The sophomore McCray took full advantage. She scored 13 of her 36 points in the extra period.
“When we lose (Zabel), we just don’t have anybody to hold a kid like that in check,” Schneider said. “She kind of imposed her will on us and made some plays.”
McCray’s 36 points came on 13-of-22 shooting. She was just 7-of-14 from the free-throw line.
Stueve added 19 points for ESU, but she hit just six of her 20 attempts.
Alli Volkens also contributed nine points and 11 rebounds in her debut.
The Lady Hornets hung in despite some ugly offense and also ugly statistics to go with it. They had just nine assists compared to 27 turnovers and were blocked nine times by KU.
ESU also suffered from a lack of scoring from its newcomers, who oftentimes passed to Stueve and Boston instead of looking for their own shots. The four new players went a combined 2-for-13 from the floor.
The Lady Hornets forced 21 KU turnovers and hit 22 of 29 free throws. ESU also held its own on the boards, only getting out-rebounded by one (48-47).
“They are a program that expects to win, and they came in here expecting to win,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “If you go down the line, every one of them thought they had a chance to win. The longer you let them play with you, the more confidence they get.”
The Lady Hornets will wrap up exhibition play on Monday with a home game against Tabor.
Tucker to redshirt
Jessen Tucker, a 5-foot-9 freshman guard from Cedar Vale, has decided to take a redshirt for this season.
“It’s something we talked about. We’ve got a big roster, and sometimes kids come in and feel like they’re not quite ready physically or mentally,” Schneider said. “We feel it’s a smart decision.”
Tucker will have four years of eligibility after this year.
Kansas 74, Emporia State 64, OT
Thursday at Lawrence
1 2 OT
Emporia State 26 29 9 — 64
Kansas 31 24 19 — 74
Emporia State (0-1 exhibition)
Cassondra Boston 9-18 3-6 29, Michelle Stueve 6-20 2-7 19, Alli Volkens 2-6 5-6 9, Andrea Leiker 1-5 3-4 6, Allie Renberg 0-2 1-2 1, Lacy Corker 0-3 0-2 0, Bree Kisner 0-5 0-0 0, Becky Zabel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-59 22-29 64.
Kansas (2-0 exhibition)
Danielle McCray 13-22 7-14 36, Nicollette Smith 3-12 0-0 9, Porscha Weddington 3-6 2-2 8, Sade Morris 3-8 0-1 6, Ivana Catic 2-3 1-2 5, Taylor McIntosh 2-6 0-1 4, LaChelda Jacobs 1-6 2-5 4, Kelly Kohn 1-7 0-0 2, Jamie Boyd 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 28-70 12-26 74.
Att — 1,886.
OutofTowner (anonymous) says...
Way to go KU!
The mighty Jayhawks defeated Emporia State, and it only took them one overtime!
Attendance was listed at 1,886. It would have been at least twice that if it had been in Emporia.
I guess everyone in Lawrence was too busy watching Mangino at 50 cent taco night to go watch
their beloved Jayhawks.
November 10, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporia (anonymous) says...
Yea Lady Hornets! Win or lose you are AWESOME to me. I count down to when official practice can start. I love it when basketball season starts. Thanks for all the fun in Lawrence! You are going to have a FANTASTIC season.
November 10, 2007 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )