LATE RUN BY #12 EMPORIA STATE DOWNS SBU, 84-70

January 3, 2003

Box

Senior Alicia Mercer recorded a season high 19 points and for the eighth game scored in double figures.

BOLIVAR, MO. ... A 20-2 run midway through the second half put the game out of hand as the Emporia State University Lady Hornets (9-0/2-0) went on to take a 14-point win, 84-70, over the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (8-3/0-2). 

After taking a nine-point halftime lead, 39-30, SBU slowly ate away ESU's lead.  At the 14:46 mark, Jenny Hancock hit a free throw to cut the Lady Hornets' lead to two points, 44-42.  Three minutes later, Ashley Bland drove in for a layup and the SBU lead, 51-50.  It was at this point that ESU's defense took over and only allowed SBU to make one shot from the floor over five minutes as the Lady Hornets went on the 20-2 run for a commanding 17-point lead, 70-53. 

ESU had as big as a 15-point lead in the first half before SBU cut it to nine points at halftime, 39-30.  In the first half, SBU was within two, 12-10, at the 15:25 mark, but ESU put together a 15-4 run over six minutes to extend their lead to 13, 27-14, with 9:18 to go.

SBU's Alicia Mercer led all scorers with 19 points and also led SBU with seven rebounds.  Amber Wheeler and Gwyn Smith also had seven rebounds.  Smith and Jennifer Clymore each had 14 points.  For ESU, Casey Henningsen recorded 18 points as she led five Lady Hornets in double-digits.  Andi McAlexander (17), Alicia Bessey (13), Vargas-Sanchez (10), and Nicole Patry (10) all scored in double figures.  Vargas-Sanchez added the double-double with 10 rebounds.

ESU outrebounded SBU only by one, 34-33, and held SBU to just 26% shooting from three-point range. ESU shot 56% from the floor, a stunning 58% from three-point range, and 51% from the free throw line. SBU forced 13 turnovers.

The Lady Bearcats will be back in action again on Wednesday, January 7th, as they travel to Warrensburg to take on Central Missouri State at 5:30 p.m.