The turnover problem for the Emporia State women’s basketball team has reached new heights.
Now, ESU players are giving the ball away even when the other team isn’t trying to take it.
The Lady Hornets couldn’t overcome their 24 turnovers on Wednesday, falling 61-54 to No. 4 Washburn in the Turnpike Tussle.
“They don’t even play a defense (where) they want to force turnovers,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “That’s what’s sad.”
Washburn, which came in with the second-best scoring defense in the MIAA, hasn’t had success this season using extreme ball pressure or full-court presses.
Instead, the Lady Blues choose to play behind offensive players, allowing them to shoot but forcing them to make tough shots.
Schneider believed it was the type of defense that could help ESU out of its recent turnover funk.
It wasn’t.
ESU now has turned the ball over at least 20 times in seven of its last eight games.
“Sometimes it’s not them forcing our turnovers,” ESU guard Andrea Leiker said. “It’s just us.”
The Lady Hornets’ giveaways also seemed to come at the worst times.
After fighting back to take a 43-40 lead, ESU’s offense shut down in the final 10 minutes.
During that stretch, the Lady Hornets had seven turnovers and made just three field goals.
Turnovers weren’t the only problem, though. Schneider said his team also was derailed by “train track” offense, running around in the same loops without any purpose or attempt at attacking the defense.
“We were moving the ball,” Schneider said, “but we weren’t being aggressive while we did it.”
Washburn took advantage.
Hope Gregory hit a 3-pointer with 9:32 left, starting a 10-0 Lady Blues run that gave WU a 50-43 lead.
ESU pulled to within three on two different occasions but, because of the offensive struggles, couldn’t get any closer.
“They’re a team that it’s hard to catch up on,” Schneider said. “They’re terrific defensively, and they don’t give you anything easy. You really have to work hard and execute for everything that you get.
“Right now we’re just not playing well enough offensively — in terms of execution or in terms of making good decisions — to put up points against a defense that’s that good.”
ESU also couldn’t help itself by getting easy baskets.
The Lady Hornets forced just 10 Washburn turnovers and rarely were able to attack when the Lady Blues’ defense wasn’t set.
ESU finished with just two fast-break points.
“Our good offense,” WU coach Ron McHenry said, “kept them from running on us.”
The Lady Hornets battled their way back twice in the first half when the Lady Blues threatened to blow the game open.
After a three-point play by Jessica Mainz, WU led 17-10 with 12:27 left in the opening half.
ESU came right back, with Michelle Stueve’s three from the corner capping a 7-0 run that made it 17-all.
Washburn scored the next 10 points, with the help of three Lady Hornets turnovers during the stretch.
At a crucial point, ESU once again put itself back into the game.
Cassondra Boston hit consecutive threes, starting a 10-0 Lady Hornet spurt that once again tied the score.
“Obviously,” Stueve said, “we weren’t ready to lay down in the first half.”
The two teams went into the break knotted at 31.
Stueve led ESU, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. It was her highest scoring total in 11 games against Washburn.
Ida Edwards and Boston were the only other Lady Hornets in double figures with 10 each.
Mainz provided perhaps her best game as a Lady Blue, ending with a career-high 16 points. She also registered five steals.
WU (11-1, 3-0 MIAA) held a 31-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
“We’re excited to catch a win on the road,” McHenry said, “but we know this league’s a long way from being over.”
ESU (8-4, 1-2 MIAA) will look to snap its two-game losing streak at home against Pittsburg State on Saturday.
Washburn women 61, Emporia State 54
Wednesday at White Auditorium
No. 4 Washburn 31 30 — 61
No. 16 ESU 31 23 — 54
WASHBURN (11-1, 3-0 MIAA)
Jessica Mainz 4-5 8-9 16, Amanda Holmes 5-12 0-0 10, Corkey Stiger 4-15 1-2 9, Regiane Araujo 3-8 3-4 9, Janice Bright 3-10 1-2 7, Hope Gregory 1-1 2-4 5, Brette Ulsaker 1-2 0-0 3, Renata Germano 1-3 0-0 2, Kalee Silovsky 0-1 0-0 0, Karla Tailele 0-4 0-0 0, Hadleigh Meek 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-62 15-21 61.
EMPORIA STATE (8-4, 1-2 MIAA)
Michelle Stueve 7-17 3-4 19, Ida Edwards 3-11 4-8 10, Cassondra Boston 3-6 2-2 10, Andrea Leiker 2-6 1-2 7, Allie Renberg 3-8 0-0 6, Alli Volkens 1-2 0-0 2, Bree Kisner 0-1 0-0 0, Becky Zabel 0-0 0-2 0, Lacy Corker 0-0 0-0 0, Jamie Augustyn 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 10-18 54.
3-point goals — Washburn 2-15 (Gregory 1-1, Ulsaker 1-2, Stiger 0-6, Bright 0-2, Tailele 0-2, Holmes 0-1, Mainz 0-1), Emporia State 6-17 (Leiker 2-3, Boston 2-4, Stueve 2-7, Augustyn 0-1, Renberg 0-1, Edwards 0-1). Fouled out — Washburn: Araujo; Emporia State: None. Rebounds — Washburn 35 (Holmes 6), Emporia State 42 (Stueve 10). Assists — Washburn 9 (Mainz, Bright 2), Emporia State 11 (Stueve 4). Total fouls — Washburn 20, Emporia State 18. Att — 3987.