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Last Updated: Mar 31st, 2009 - 23:57:33 |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The top-seeded Emporia State Lady Hornets defeated the SBU Bearcats 81-65 in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.
Cold shooting by the Bearcats (8-20) in the first half doomed their hopes for upset, as the 'Cats shot 27% and trailed at halftime 36-23. The Bearcats turned things around in the second half, hitting 55% from the floor but they were only able to get to within 10 points of the Lady Hornets (24-4).
"The last two times we played them, it was a track meet," said SBU head coach J.C. Carter. "But Emporia did a good job today of slowing it down and pounding it inside, to take advantage of our size disadvantage. We tried to speed up the game with the half court trap and forced 12 turnovers, but Emporia adjusted in the second half."
Rachel Graves led the Bearcats with 19 points, 6 boards, 4 steals and 4 assists. Mia Gilreath had 13 points and Jasmine Sanford had 12. Seniors Cortney Shewmaker and Courtney Creed were held to 6 and 2 points respectively. MIAA MVP Ida Edwards led ESU with 18 points.
Emporia State out-rebounded the Bearcats 54-27. Graves thought her team could've done a better job. "We were disappointed with the rebounding. But it is what it is. We just have work on things and get ready for next year."
The Bearcats led early at 4-2, but went cold and missed their next nine shots while the Lady Hornets scored 14 straight to lead 16-4 with 11:37 left in the first half.
The Bearcats will lose three seniors in Courtney Creed, Cortney Shewmaker and Erica Smith. Both Creed and Shewmaker finish in the top ten all-time in women's basketball scoring for their careers. Smith was a valuable post player who was lost for the season with a December injury at Pitt State.
Carter knows what it takes for success in the MIAA. "It's a great league. We'll be back," he said. "I like the coaches in this conference - they're all great individuals. But the one thing you see, you have to get some athletes. And we're definitely going to do that to add to our team."
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