The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

The Truman State women (11-2/3-1 MIAA) have won eight straight at home and are only the third team in school history to start a season with a 11-2 record.

The Bulldogs lead all of the NCAA (all Divisions) in three-point shooting at 48.1%, next is Duke (N.C.) University at 45.4%.

Truman is behind Baylor (Texas) University (51.8%) and the University of Connecticut (50.8%) in overall field goal percentage with their 49.2% and wrapped up a week in which they made 43 of their 66 (65.2%) three-point attempts while going 3-0.

The Lady Hornets (7-5/2-2 MIAA) have won two straight including Tuesday night’s 65-59 victory on the road at Southwest Baptist (Mo.).

Junior transfer Laura Patrick leads Emporia State in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Patrick shoots 41.0% from three connecting on 32 of 78 attempts this season.

Emporia State averages 67.2 points while allowing 62.8 per game and are fourth in the conference in blocked shots per game at 4.8.

Sophomore Merissa Quick has a team leading 25 blocks through 12 games, which ranks second in the league.

The Lady Hornets ended Truman’s season last year with a three-pointer by Kelsey Balcom at the horn to win in the first round of the MIAA postseason tournament 64-63. 

Truman snapped a seven-game skid to Emporia with a 78-60 victory in Pershing Arena on January 28. Overall, the Lady Hornets lead the all-time series with the Bulldogs 42-7.

Series Notes vs. Emporia State:
Series Record: Emporia leads, 27-14; 42^nd meeting
Last Meeting: Truman-77, Emporia-70 (OT) (Jan. 28, 2012 || Kirksville, Mo.)
Series Streak: Truman W-1
Record in Kirksville: Emporia leads 12-7 (Truman W-1)
Last TSU win in Kirksville: Truman-77, Emporia-70 (OT) (Jan. 28, 2012)
Woodley vs. Emporia: 1-1
 
Scouting the Hornets:
Emporia visits Pershing Arena on Saturday in search of its first MIAA win after falling to 0-4 in league play following a 65-60 loss at SW Baptist on Tuesday.

The Hornets are 5-7 overall this season, including a 1-6 mark in games outside of Emporia.
 
Kaleb Wright ranks seventh in the MIAA in scoring, entering the week at 16.1 ppg, while Paul Bunch – a semester addition to the club, is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game through six contests. ESU is shooting 45.3% from the floor, 34% from three-point range and just 61% from the free throw line.

Courtesy Truman State University