Emporia State Moves On with 90-71 Victory

CANYON, Texas (ESU Media Relations) -- No. 15 Emporia State used a 22-0 run in the first half on its way to a 90-71 win over Tarleton State in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women’s South Central Regional Basketball Tournament in Canyon, Texas on Friday night.  Cassondra Boston led ESU with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists while Alli Volkens added 21 points and seven rebounds.

ESU led 10-8 at the first media timeout when the Lady Hornets went on a 22-0 run to go up 32-8 with 8:02 left in the half.  Sophia Lenard got the run started with a three pointer and a total of seven Lady Hornets would score during the run.  ESU was nine of 15 from the floor with four offensive during the 6:58 run.

The Lady Hornets would take a 23 point lead into the locker rooms. The TexAnns started the second half on an 19-7 run to pull within 12 points at 57-45 with 15:35 remaining.  Alli Volkens then scored five points in a 7-0 run for ESU to regain a 19 point lead.  TSU would close to 13 on two other occasions but another 7-0 run with five points coming from Boston gave ESU a 24 point lead with 3:43 left in the game.

Boston and Volkens were joined in double figures by Lenard with 11 and Lacy Corker with 10 points.  As a team ESU shot .508 from the field and .588 from behind the three point arc.

ESU will play the winner of the last quarterfinal game between West Texas A&M and St. Mary’s.  The Lady Hornets semifinal will tip at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.