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Last Updated: Mar 31st, 2009 - 23:57:33 |
EMPORIA, Kan. - The SBU Bearcats rallied from 16 points down in the second half, to stun the #9 Emporia State Lady Hornets 86-73.
Emporia would push the lead to as much as 16 points at 50-34 at the 17:33 mark before the Bearcats would start their comeback. Defense pressure by the Bearcats along with threes from Mia Gilreath and Courtney Creed helped the rally. Courtney Heady hit a three to give the Bearcats the lead 60-59 with 6:19 left.
Creed would deliver a crucial conventional three-point play at the 3:12 mark to give the 'Cats a 70-67 lead. SBU would extend their lead to eight points on buckets by Rachel Graves and Creed before SBU would go 10 of 12 from the line down the stretch to seal the victory.
"What a big victory for our team and our program," said coach J.C. Carter. "I told them at halftime we're only down two more than we were to Truman. We were a little unsure of ourselves in the first half. Basketball is a game of confidence and that showed in our defense and shooting in the second half. We shot 67% (16-24) in the second half."
"Rachel Graves came up big in the second half. She had all of her points (13) in the second half and created some shots for others. She had 5 assists but also created the shots for others with her dribble penetration. Mia Gilreath also hit some big threes for us. She played very poised, especially for a freshman."
Courtney Creed led SBU in scoring with 18 points, one of four Bearcats in double figures. Mia Gilreath had a career high 17 points for the Bearcats. Cortney Shewmaker had 14 points including 7 of 8 from the foul line. Rachel Graves had 13 points, all in the second half. Creed had 9 boards to top the Bearcats.
Andrea Leiker and Sophia Lenard had 14 points each to lead the Lady Hornets. SBU shot 47% for the game and 82% from the foul line. SBU out-rebounded ESU 35-32 and each team committed 14 turnovers. The Bearcats out-scored the Lady Hornets in the second frame 54 to 31, including the 52-23 run from the 17:33 second half mark.
SBU trailed by two points at the 7:48 mark in the first half, but the #9 Lady Hornets went on a 16-5 run over the next five minutes to push their lead to 41-28. The Bearcats would trim the lead slightly before the break, trailing 42-32 at halftime. SBU was only 2 of 11 from three-point range in the first half but responded in the second half, going 5 of 8 from long range in the second stanza.
This was the first win for SBU in Emporia since the Bearcats ended the Lady Hornets 62-game home court winning streak with a 65-62 victory on January 17, 2001. This was also the fifth time in history that SBU had given the Lady Hornets their first MIAA loss after 5-0 start by ESU.
SBU improves to 5-7 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA with their second consecutive MIAA win. #9 Emporia State falls to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA.
SBU continues on the road next Wednesday night, when they travel to Topeka to take on the Lady Blues of Washburn. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.
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