Lady Hornets roll in MIAA semis
By C.J. Moore
Originally published 07:19 p.m., March 7, 2009
Updated 09:08 p.m., March 7, 2009
KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Emporia State is back in the MIAA tournament championship for the first time since 2005.
The wait has been long, but the Lady Hornets have sure made the journey look easy this weekend. They won in their second blowout of the tournament on Saturday, beating Missouri Southern 83-69 in the semifinals, and they will try Sunday for their first MIAA tournament title since 2001.
“I think we had a great season and obviously we’re going to be in the championship game tomorrow, something we’ve been working toward all year,” ESU senior Ida Edwards said. “It was one of our goals all year, and we’re just waiting for the game tomorrow and hopefully we'll bring home the W.”
Emporia State (25-4) pulled away at the end of the first half, ending the half on a 15-0 run to take a 45-29 lead. The Lady Hornets made their run with three MSU starters on the bench with two fouls.
The Lady Hornets took four charges and their help defense didn’t just help build the lead; it also helped keep Southern’s best players on the bench.
The Lions were whistled for 17 fouls in the first half and coach Maryann Mitts said she kept India Wood, Myosha Barnes and Nichole Helfrich on the bench because she was worried they would pick up their third fouls.
“I thought about Myosha several times, but with all the charges, I was afraid she’d pick one up on the offensive end,” Mitts said.
Barnes and Woods, who are two of the best slashers in the league, did not start attacking the basket until the latter stages of the second half. Instead, the Lions shot 20 3-pointers, making only five.
“Both of those players are great playmakers and we had some great one-on-one defense and we were just ready to help,” Edwards said. “I told them no fouls, we had help down low. Everybody on the team gave great effort to rotate and take the charge.”
Missouri Southern (19-10) starts four guards and for the second straight game, the Lady Hornets’ game plan was to take advantage of their superior size in the post.
Edwards led ESU with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Alli Volkens added 10 points off the bench and the ESU frontcourt combined to outscore Southern’s 49-15.
“Alli’s had a good tournament thus far,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “We need that. We need contributions from both of our fives. Alli’s done a great job and I think that it’s really hard to win in March taking jump shots. You’ve got to get the ball to the rim, whether it’s putting it on the floor and getting it there with dribble penetration or with post feeds to your inside kids.”
Missouri Southern opened the game attacking the basket and jumped out to a 14-7 lead. Emporia State answered with a 7-0 run by getting the ball to the paint.
“I thought Missouri Southern played extremely hungry to start the game, hungrier than we played,” Schneider said. “They’re getting and ones and attacking the rim, and we’re settling for threes. I thought once we started competing on a higher level – just in terms of intensity level and physicality – we were able to get ourselves back in the game.”
Cassondra Boston scored all 15 of her points in the first half to help build a sizable lead. Missouri Southern was never within single digits in the second half, and the Lady Hornets have not led by less than 10 in the second half of either of their first two tournament games.
Sunday should not be so easy. Emporia State will play Washburn in the championship at 3:15 p.m at Municipal Auditorium. Washburn split with ESU this year with both teams winning at home.
beth (anonymous) says...
Let's go Lady Hornets! Another Turnpike Tussle.
March 8, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )