The nightcap of day one of the MIAA Postseason Basketball tournament will feature third-seeded Emporia State University Lady Hornets and sixth-seeded Truman State University Bulldogs as the two will square off in the 8:15 p.m. game from Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
The two teams split the regular season match-ups with each handing the other their worst losses of the season. Emporia won 70-49 on their home court back on December 17th while the Bulldogs downed the Lady Hornets 78-60 on January 28th in Kirksville.
Truman (17-9 overall; 11-9 MIAA) have won seven of their last 10 games including five straight while Emporia State (19-7 overall; 14-6 MIAA) are 6-4 down the stretch but used a big 73-64 road win against Fort Hays State (Kan.) in the regular season finale to grab the third seed in the tournament.
These two squads are two of the top four defensive teams in the MIAA with the Bulldogs allowing 60.4 points per game and limiting opponents to 28.4% shooting from behind the arc while the Lady Hornets are second in scoring defense at 59.2 ppg and first in three-point defense at 27.4%.
Truman holds an advantage in turnovers, averaging 13.3 per game and a plus 3.5 turnover margin while Emporia gives it up 15.5 per night and has a minus 1.9 margin.
Emporia holds a slight advantage in rebounding as the Lady Hornets are a plus 6.2 per game and Truman is a plus 3.8.
A pair of second-team All-MIAA selections will faceoff with Truman’s junior guard Becka McHenry and Emporia State’s senior guard Heather Robben will do battle.
Both lead their respective team in scoring, each over 14 points per game and each averages are 32 minutes a game.
Emporia’s Jocelyn Cummings was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and Truman’s Breanna Daniels was an honorable mention all-MIAA pick to round out conference honorees between these two teams.
In the two meetings this season, Truman’s Nicole Gloor averaged 16.5 points and Jennifer Conway dropped in 15 a game.
Meanwhile, Emporia’s Kelsey Balcom, the 2011 MIAA Freshman of the Year, scored 16 in her only game played back in December.
This will be the seventh game for the Bulldogs against a ranked opponent and they have split the previous six.
Truman has ranked wins over #24 Quincy, #15 Washburn and #17 Emporia State. Truman has also received votes in couple of polls this season.
The winner on Thursday night will face either #2 seed Pittsburg State or #7 seed Lincoln on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals at 2:30 p.m.
Truman Season Milestones:
The 17 regular season wins is the most for the program since the team won 17 during the 1999-2000 season. The school record for wins is 22 set by the 1998-99 team.
The 11 MIAA wins is one better than last season, with two fewer games this season.
They finished with the highest conference winning percentage (.555) since a .667 (12-6) during the 99-00 campaign.
It is the first time in a dozen years the Bulldogs finished above .500 in conference play.
The Series:
Emporia and Truman split the 2011-12 season with each winning on their home court. Emporia won 70-49 on December 17 while Truman won 78-60 in Kirksville on January 28.
In each game, the margin of victory was the worst all season for the losing team, Truman -21 and Emporia -18.
The Lady Hornets lead the overall series 41-7 but the teams have split their four neutral site meetings. The Bulldogs won the last neutral site match-up, at the 2008 MIAA postseason tournament in the first round.
This will be the seventh game for the Bulldogs against a ranked opponent and they have split the previous six.
Truman has ranked wins over #24 Quincy, #15 Washburn and #17 Emporia State. Truman has also received votes in couple of polls this season.
The winner on Thursday night will face either #2 seed Pittsburg State or #7 seed Lincoln on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals at 2:30 p.m.
Courtesy Truman State University