Not-So Friendly Face

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By Jesse Newell

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Michael Norris/Amarillo Globe-News

Emporia State's Becky Zabel, center, comes down with a rebound in between Washburn's Hope Gregory (33) and Janice Bright (32) during the NCAA-II South Central Regional Championship at the First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas on Monday.

CANYON, Texas — Corkey brought down the Lady Hornets.

The Emporia State women had their NCAA Tournament run halted by a familiar foe — and a dominant player — as Washburn’s Corkey Stiger scored a career-high 31 points in her team’s 73-58 victory over ESU in the South Central Regional Championship game.

“She didn’t just hit open shots — she made some plays on her own,” ESU senior Michelle Stueve said. “That’s what big-time players do in big games.”

Stiger’s timing couldn’t have been better, either.

The senior helped her team get off to a fast start, going 4-for-4 in the first 5 1/2 minutes. Her 10 early points helped Washburn grab a 17-7 lead.

Michael Norris/Amarillo Globe-News

The Washburn Lady Blues celebrate after winning the South Central Regional Championship game over Emporia State Monday night at the First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas.

The quick guard then helped hold off the Lady Hornets in the second half. Following a 10-0 ESU run — eight of those points came from Stueve — Stiger connected on a pull-up jumper and a 3-pointer from the wing in a 23-second stretch that built the WU lead back to 44-34.

“I just knew that when they went on runs,” Stiger said, “we needed to, too.”

Stueve would hit a three to cut the deficit to 52-49 with 6 minutes left before WU’s other speedy guard took over.

Janice Bright was fouled on three consecutive drives to the basket, making four of her six free throws.

She later added a pair of layups as the Lady Blues once again extended their advantage back to 10 points at 63-53 with 2:44 left.

“Every time it seemed like we put together a run or got a good stop,” Stueve said, “they’d hit something to put it out of reach again.”

Michael Norris/Amarillo Globe-News

Emporia State’s Michelle Stueve drives past Washburn’s Kalee Silovsky during their NCAA South Central Regional Championship game Monday night at the First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas. Washburn defeated Emporia State, 73-58, to advance to the Elite Eight.

With 29 seconds left, ESU coach Brandon Schneider took out Stueve for the final time as ESU fans gave her one last standing ovation.

The MIAA Most Valuable Player had 25 points and 10 rebounds in her final collegiate game.

“It’s just kind of hard,” Stueve said. “Everyone sits and talks about when your last game is going to be, then when it hits you, it’s a little bit different.”

Stueve broke Carolyn Richard’s ESU scoring record with her first basket — a 16-foot jumper 4 minutes into the game.

The senior scored 18 points in the second half, going 8-for-10 from the floor after the break.

“I thought Stueve was terrific — probably the best performance she’s had in four years against Washburn,” Schneider said. “To be honest with you, that’s what I expected of her tonight.”

ESU led just once in the game and also trailed 30-22 at half.

Michael Norris/Amarillo Globe-News

Emporia State’s Alli Volkens goes up against the defense of Washburn's Amanda Holmes, left, and Kalee Silovsky during Monday night’s NCAA Tournament game in Canyon, Texas.

The biggest reason for the deficit was turnovers. The Lady Hornets had trouble getting shots off in the first 20 minutes, giving the ball away 14 times before the break.

“We just turned it over a lot trying to make a post feed,” Schneider said. “They got their hands on too many balls. We telegraphed way too many passes.”

Though Schneider was happy with his team’s post players — second-team all-MIAA forward Amanda Holmes was held to 10 points — the Lady Hornets’ guards couldn’t match the performances of Stiger and Bright.

Cassondra Boston had just three points, going 1-for-7 with six turnovers. ESU’s four primary guards combined for 13 giveaways.

Meanwhile, Stiger made 10 of 18 shots, and Bright finished with 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting.

Both were able to penetrate past ESU’s smaller guards on a consistent basis.

“Their No. 1s and No. 2s were terrific, and our 1s and 2s didn’t quite play like I’m sure they would have liked,” Schneider said. “ ... We just got out-athleted in those matchups.”

Andrea Leiker was the only other ESU player in double digits with 10 points.

It was just the fourth time this season that the Lady Hornets had been held under 60 points. Three of those games were against Washburn.

The Lady Blues (26-6), who have won 10 of the last 12 meetings against ESU, advance to the Elite Eight in Kearney, Neb., where they will play South Dakota. ESU, after winning two games to move to the Sweet 16, ended its season at 23-8.

The Lady Hornets will return next year with every player except for one: the two-time All-American Stueve.

“It happens every year. People go through four years of college and they graduate,” Stueve said. “I don’t know. I’m another senior. I just have to move on and do what everyone else does.”

Washburn 73, Emporia State 58

Monday at Canyon, Texas

Emporia State 22 36 — 58

Washburn 30 43 — 73

Emporia State (23-8) — Michelle Stueve 8-18 7-10 25, Andrea Leiker 3-8 2-2 10, Ida Edwards 3-7 2-5 8, Allie Renberg 2-2 2-2 6, Cassondra Boston 1-7 1-2 3, Lacy Corker 1-5 0-0 3, Bree Kisner 1-3 0-0 2, Alli Volkens 0-0 1-2 1, Becky Zabel 0-2 0-0 0, Jamie Augustyn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 15-23 58.

Washburn (26-6) — Corkey Stiger 10-18 9-10 31, Janice Bright 5-8 6-12 16, Amanda Holmes 3-10 3-4 10, Jessica Mainz 1-4 7-8 9, Hope Gregory 2-3 0-0 5, Brette Ulsaker 0-1 2-2 2, Kalee Silovsky 0-0 0-0 0, Regiane Araujo 0-1 0-0 0, Renata Germano 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-47 27-36 73.

3-point goals — Emporia State-W 5-19 (Stueve 2-5, Leiker 2-5, Corker 1-2, Boston 0-4, Kisner 0-1, Zabel 0-1, Edwards 0-1), Washburn 4-11 (Stiger 2-6, Gregory 1-1, Holmes 1-1, Mainz 0-2, Bright 0-1). Fouled out — Emporia State: Edwards, Boston, Corker; Washburn: None. Rebounds — Emporia State 39 (Stueve 10), Washburn 28 (Holmes 7). Assists — Emporia State 9 (Boston 3), Washburn 12 (Mainz 4). Total fouls — Emporia State 26, Washburn 18. Att — 457.