FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 14, 2009

No. 8 Emporia State knocks off Lions, 79-56

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. - The No. 8-ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets came out firing on all cylinders and went on to defeat the Missouri Southern Lions 79-56 Saturday evening (Feb. 14) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.  Even with the loss, the Lions hang onto the fourth spot in the MIAA with an 11-5 conference record.

The Lady Hornets opened the contest on a 16-2 run in the first 5:30 minutes.  Ida Edwards and Sophia Lenard combined for 10 points to lead the charge.

Southern got it within 18-10 on a three from India Wood, but the Lady Hornets quickly expanded the lead back to 14 on a combined eight points from Allie Renberg and Edwards to lead 26-12.

Wood again helped the Lions climb back to within single-digits with five consecutive points to cut the lead to 26-17 with 8:50 left in the second half.

The Lady Hornets continued to keep the Lions at arms length with a 14-6 spurt for their biggest lead of the half at 40-23 and maintained a 44-27 edge at the half.

The deficit was 49-31 when a pair of free throws by Nichole Helfrich and a layup from Wood made it a 14-point game four minutes into the second half.

But Renberg and Edwards again helped the Lady Hornets hold off the Lions by combining to all 10 points of a 10-4 spurt that put ESU up by their largest margin to that point at 59-39 with 10:33 remaining.  The Lions could get no closer than 16 from that point.

Helfrich led the Lions with 18 points and six rebounds, including making all 10 of her free-throw attempts.  Wood also reached double-figures with 10.

Edwards was a perfect 10-of-10 from the field and had a game-high 22 for the Lady Hornets (21-3, 15-2 MIAA).  Renberg scored 13 and a game-high eight boards.  Andrea Leiker also had 13 and Lenard added 11 along with a game-high nine assists.

The Lady Hornets shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58) overall, including a red-hot 56 percent (14-of-25) in the second half. 

Southern managed a 33 percent (18-of-54) shooting clip overall.

The Lions will now head to Topeka, Kan. to tangle with the No. 9-ranked Washburn Lady Blues on Thursday evening (Feb. 19) at 5:30 p.m.  The Lions won the season's first meeting (Jan. 10) with the Lady Blues, 59-58 in Joplin.