Emporia State guard Cassondra Boston

ESU Looks to Retain First Place in Turnpike Tussle

By David Boyce

Emporia State women's basketball coach Brandon Schneider said it wouldn't matter if his team and Washburn were battling for the 10^th and 11^th spots in the MIAA, Saturday's game would still be filled with intensity.

It's why whenever the two schools meet in any sport, it is usually referred to as the Turnpike Tussle.

"You play your arch rival your emotions are different," Schneider said. "Obviously, the emphasis placed on this game from the fans, the alumni is much greater. We have to understand that. It's the nature of a rivalry game."

The thing is the Hornets and the Lady Blues are normally battling for the top spot in the MIAA in women's basketball and that just heightens the intensity. This year is no different.

"It is always a big game against Washburn," said senior guard Cassondra Boston, who leads Emporia State in scoring at 18.0 per game. "Obviously, they are a big rival. They are a team we always get up for. Both of us are usually competing for that 1-2 spot in the conference. We are always excited to play them."

Emporia State, ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II, has a sparkling 14-1 overall record and is 7-1 and first place in the MIAA.

The Hornets will enter Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan., riding a nine-game winning streak.

Meanwhile, Washburn, ranked No. 8, is probably very eager for the 5:30 p.m. tipoff Saturday evening to rebound from its current two-game losing streak that has dropped the Lady Blues to 13-2 and 7-2.

"They are always going to play good against us because it's the Washburn-Emporia game," said Emporia State junior forward Alli Volkens. "I think it is a little more motivation for them because they have lost two straight."

The two teams are coming into this weekend game from totally different perspectives.

Washburn is trying to bounce back from a 58-57 overtime loss at Pittsburg State on Wednesday night.

Emporia State had Wednesday off. The Hornets practiced all week with the knowledge they have won nine straight games since losing 88-76 at Northwest Missouri on Dec. 2.

"I think we responded really positively," Boston said. "We realized we needed to make some improvements, and since then we have and we've been playing a lot better."

Conventional wisdom is since the Hornets had the entire week to prepare for Saturday's game, that they spent it working on how to beat Washburn in Topeka to gain tighter grasp of first place.

But that's not how Schneider approaches a Saturday game when his team doesn't have a Wednesday conference game.

"We have a routine where we typically spend two days getting ready for our next opponent," Schneider said. "We try to use the bye week to focus on ourselves for a couple of days."

Schneider is pleased with the progress his team has made since the start of the season.

It has taken some work to move to the top of the conference. The Hornets started the season with injuries to Volkens and Sophia Lenard and Brittney Miller was coming off the volleyball season.

Volkens, who comes off the bench but is the Hornets' second leading scorer at 10.6 points per game, had arthroscopic surgery on a knee on Oct. 31.

"I put in a lot of work," Volkens said. "I was in the training room everyday to get back to feeling pretty good."

Volkens' scoring ability takes some of the pressure off Boston. Also, as the season has moved forward, other players have increased their offense and that helps Boston.

"She (Boston), by far, has been our most consistent player and that's what we expect out of her," Schneider said. "I thought early in the year we weren't near as balanced as what we needed to be.

"We kind of stood around and waited for her to make every play. That puts a lot of undue pressure on a player. I think she is playing a lot more relaxed."

The Hornets understand they will need to be in top form no matter how Washburn is playing.

"They are back at home," Schneider said. "It is much easier to cure what ails you when you are playing on your home floor.

"But we are not going to get any different team than what we would have gotten had they been undefeated just because the nature of the rivalry. We are going to get their best. We are going to strive to give them our best."

But as far as preparation, Schneider is treating this game like any other.

"I'm not a big fan of trying to place one opponent or one game with any more importance than the other," Schneider said. "We just try to stick to our routine."

To reach David Boyce, contributing writer for the MIAA, e-mail dboyce@themiaa.com.