Emporia State Earns Spot in Regional Title Game

CANYON, Texas (ESU Media Relations) -- Cassondra Boston had 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as No. 15 Emporia State knocked No. 9 West Texas A&M out of the NCAA Tournament with a 76-69 victory in Canyon, Texas. It is the third time in six years the Lady Hornets have eliminated the top seed on their home floor in the regional tournament.

There were five ties and five lead changes in the first 12:22 of the game before Jocelyn Cummings gave ESU the lead for good with a pair of free throws at the 7:38 mark. Boston scored the final five points of the half on a lay up and three free throws to give the Lady Hornets a 35-27 lead at the break.

ESU would extend their run to 9-0 by scoring the first four points of the second half to gain a 12 point advantage at 39-27 with 16:10 left in the game. The Lady Hornets would lead by as many as 13 on two occassions before the Lady Buffs made their final push.

With ESU leading 63-53 with 3:38 left, WTAMU's Joni Unruh scored on an old fashioned three point play and Jamie Simmons hit back to back buckets to cut the lead to 63-60 with 2:28 left. Boston hit two free throws to push the lead back to five with 2:11 remaining. Simmons then scored her sixth straight point to pull the Lady Buffs back to 65-62 with 1:54 left.

With the shot clock running down, Boston delivered the dagger with a step back three pointer with 1:29 remaining to give the Lady Hornets a six point lead. Simmons had a string of six straight makes from the field snapped on the next possession and Brittney Miller pulled down her team high eighth rebound, but then missed two free throws with 1:06 remaining. Simmons hit another layup with 58 seconds remaining to make it 68-64, but ESU would hit their final eight free throws to seal the win.

Alli Volkens had 19 points on eight of ten shooting from the field with five rebounds. Sophia Lenard had 13 points and Jamie Augustyn scored ten to join Boston and Volkens in double figures.

With the win, ESU will advance to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship game on Monday night against Northeastern State.  The Riverhawks defeated Washburn 56-51 in the other semifinal. It will be ESU's eighth Sweet 16 berth in the last 14 years.