Emporia State coach Brandon Schneider put his players into a 2-3 zone defense Friday night because of necessity.
He ended up keeping them there because of effectiveness.
For the second time in a week, the No. 3 Emporia State women used a zone in the second half to stifle Cameron’s offense.
This time, it helped the Lady Hornets to an 80-60 victory Friday in the Cameron Thanksgiving Classic in Lawton, Okla.
“The zone’s been good for us,” ESU senior Michelle Stueve said. “We like to play the pressure man-to-man, but sometimes slowing things down and giving them a different look is better for us.
“It worked out again today.”
The defensive switch — made mostly because ESU was thin in the post with Alli Volkens picking up her fourth foul — contributed in a 22-6 second-half run that turned a 47-44 ESU lead into a 19-point cushion.
“I think it just surprises the other team and kind of slows them down,” ESU guard Jamie Augustyn said. “They kind of start jacking up shots, and we get the rebound out of it. It seems to work.”
Schneider said he had only planned to use the zone until Cameron made a few 3-pointers, but the Aggies never could shoot the Lady Hornets out of the set.
The two teams’ second game in a week had a similar score but a much different feeling afterward.
A week ago at White Auditorium, ESU fell behind 30-17 before a pair of furious runs helped the team to an 81-63 win.
The triumph Friday at Cameron’s home gym was much more comfortable, as ESU held a sizable lead through most of the second half.
“I think it’s a win we’re really proud of,” Schneider said, “especially doing it under the circumstances we had.”
In the first half, the Lady Hornets battled through foul trouble and poor first-half shooting while going up against a Cameron team that was playing well.
ESU still managed to grab the halftime lead, ending on a 9-2 spurt to take a 30-24 advantage into the break.
Stueve helped the Lady Hornets pick things up offensively in the second half.
The All-American had 12 points during ESU’s 22-6 run, which included three 3-pointers.
“We set a lot of screens and got some open looks,” Stueve said. “I missed a few, but I had good screens and I started feeling it, so I kept shooting.”
Stueve finished with 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting. She made 5 of her 9 three-point attempts.
Cassondra Boston — who had 34 points and made 9 of 10 3-pointers in her last game against Cameron — was held to 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
Augustyn added a pair of 3-pointers, and both of her buckets came at big times.
The sophomore’s three in the first half broke a 6-0 Cameron run, and her trey in the second half snapped a 7-0 Aggie spurt.
“I’m just told to shoot when I’m open, so I shot it,” Augustyn said. “I just do what Brandon tells me to do. I know he knows what he’s doing. I just do my best whenever I get in there.”
Augustyn finished a perfect 2-for-2 from the floor.
Allie Renberg continued her string of strong outings, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.
ESU (3-0) is scheduled to play Central Oklahoma at 2 p.m. today in its final game of the Thanksgiving Classic.
Cameron Thanksgiving Classic
Friday at Lawton, Okla.
Emporia State women 80, Cameron 60
No. 3 ESU 30 50 — 80
Cameron 24 36 — 60
EMPORIA STATE (3-0)
Michelle Stueve 8-14 6-9 27, Cassondra Boston 3-13 1-2 10, Allie Renberg 4-6 2-2 10, Becky Zabel 2-2 3-4 7, Andrea Leiker 2-3 2-2 7, Alli Volkens 2-5 3-3 7, Jamie Augustyn 2-2 0-0 6, Brittney Miller 2-5 1-2 5, Lacy Corker 0-1 1-2 1, Bree Kisner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-52 19-26 80.
CAMERON (1-2)
Keindra Scott 6-16 8-12 20, Jasmine Parr 3-10 3-4 11, Kristi Taylor 3-9 2-5 9, Megan Atkins 4-5 0-0 9, Tiffany Williams 3-11 0-3 7, Sarah Moore 1-2 0-0 2, Merrisa Martinuzzi 1-2 0-0 2, Evelyn Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Haley Dunn 0-0 0-0 0, Constance Rundles 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-56 13-24 60.
3-point goals — Emporia State 11-22 (Stueve 5-9, Boston 3-7, Augustyn 2-2, Leiker 1-2, Miller 0-1, Corker 0-1); Cameron 5-20 (Parr 2-6, Williams 1-5, Taylor 1-3, Atkins 1-1, Taylor 0-1, Martinuzzi 0-1, Scott 0-3). Fouled out — Emporia State: Volkens; Cameron: None. Rebounds — Emporia State 37 (Renberg 9), Cameron 33 (Atkins 7). Assists — Emporia State 16 (Boston 5), Cameron 13 (Taylor 7). Total fouls — Emporia State 20, Cameron 18. Att — 650.