Call it the battle for the banner.
When the No. 18 Emporia State and No. 17 Washburn women’s basketball teams hook up for Saturday’s Turnpike Tussle, much more will be at stake than just a victory in a rivalry game.
Most likely, the winner of the contest will see the result in the rafters next year in the form of a conference championship.
The two teams come in tied at first place in the MIAA, which means the victor will take a full-game lead in the standings with just one week left in the regular season.
“We have games after, but we’re both in the lead right now,” ESU senior Michelle Stueve said, “so whoever gets it could take it all.”
The two teams enter the contest as the hottest squads in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets have won eight straight, while the Lady Blues have reeled off six victories in a row.
It all should add up to a rowdy environment at Lee Arena in a game that usually doesn’t need any extra billing.
“I’m really excited about Saturday night,” ESU guard Becky Zabel said. “I think it’s just going to be an amazing atmosphere.”
ESU dropped the first matchup against WU, a 61-54 loss at White Auditorium on Jan. 9.
In that game, the Lady Hornets had 24 turnovers compared to the Lady Blues’ 10.
“They scored a bunch of points off our turnovers,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “They’re a team you just can’t give extra possessions. They play too well on offense and are terrific defensively. They’re terrific on the glass, and that’s why they’re in first place.”
WU also held ESU to 36 percent shooting in the game.
The Lady Blues are 11-1 at home this season, with their only loss coming against Missouri Southern.
ESU, meanwhile, has lost eight of its last 10 games against WU.
Corkey Stiger leads the Lady Blues, averaging 16.5 points per game.
Senior forward Amanda Holmes and junior guard Janice Bright both have 10.5-point-per-game averages.
This will be the 16th straight meeting between the schools in which both teams are nationally ranked.
“It’ll be a good matchup — a lot of people there, a lot of people anticipating it,” Stueve said. “Hopefully, we’ll just come out and play our best.”
Hornets hoping to bounce back against 'Bods
Wes Book says he has one more assignment — this one outside of the classroom — that he’d like to accomplish before getting his diploma.
“I’ve got a winning record right now against Washburn — just barely,” Book said. “I want to make sure my senior year that I graduate knowing that I beat them more times than they beat me.”
In actuality, Book’s record seems to be safe. The guard is 5-3 against WU, as the Hornets have won the last five meetings between the schools.
Still, a victory on Saturday would help the Hornets make their way out of a five-game losing streak.
“No matter who we’re playing — we just need a win right now,” Book said. “A win over a rival on their home court would be huge.”
A win also would help ESU secure a place in the MIAA Tournament.
The Hornets are two games up on Truman for the final spot with three games left. ESU plays at Truman next Wednesday.
The encouraging sign for the Hornets is that they will play after getting a couple days at practice with all their players healthy.
Point guard DeAndre Townsend has come back from the flu, and Book will just be in his third game back after recovering from a foot injury.
The pair played in their first game together in a month on Wednesday against Pittsburg State.
“We’re kind of two guys that are kind of feisty and play with a lot of passion,” Townsend said. “I love to play with Wes. I thrive off of him and I look up to him.”
Townsend said the Hornets, despite the recent struggles, would be ready for Saturday’s game.
“No matter what our record is, with Washburn, we’re coming,” Townsend said. “... Washburn’s Washburn. We’re Emporia. They hate us, we hate them, so we’ve got to go out and get one against them.”