Photo by Carly Pearson
Emporia State senior Michelle Stueve, right, is congratulated by her teammates after being announced as the MIAA’s all-time leading scorer with 2,161 points. Stueve scored 27 points in the Lady Hornets’ 86-67 victory over Northwest Missouri State.
Just as Brandon Schneider opened the media room door, a trail of applause followed him in.
“That’s not for me,” the Emporia State coach said with a smile.
Instead, it was for the person behind him. The 6-foot-2, two-time All-American.
The MIAA’s new all-time leading scorer.
It was Michelle Stueve’s night — both on the court and in the hallway afterward when she received a standing ovation from Lady Hornets fans.
Stueve’s 27 points not only led ESU to an 86-67 victory over Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday night, it also moved her to the top of the conference’s record books.
The senior’s 2,161 points are the most in MIAA history, breaking Becky Reichard’s mark of 2,159 points.
“I feel really honored to get it,” Stueve said. “There’s a lot of circumstances and a lot of things that have happened to put me in that situation, and I feel very fortunate.
“It’s kind of overwhelming.”
Stueve tied the record on a jumper with 5:56 remaining before driving in 48 seconds later to take the honor for herself.
The senior took the ball all the way to the basket, making a layup while getting fouled to become the most prolific scorer in the conference’s history.
“Anybody that knows Michelle — that’s coaches, that’s teammates — any honor that comes her way, they’d say she deserves it,” Schneider said. “Anybody that knows her knows her work ethic, not only in practice everyday, but on her own in time that is not required. That’s what makes her special.”
Stueve’s only regret was missing the free throw that would have completed her three-point play.
Afterward, though, it was all smiles. Schneider presented Stueve with the game ball, and the Olpe senior was congratulated at mid-court by fans and teammates alike.
“I’ve played a lot of basketball,” ESU guard Andrea Leiker said, “and I’ve never played with someone that scores like she can.”
The bit of history overshadowed a victory that was unique in its own right.
ESU, led by an overpowering defensive performance and good shooting, jumped out to a 44-20 halftime lead.
The first-half statistics turned out to be anything but ordinary. The Lady Hornets led by 24 despite committing 18 turnovers and having just 23 field-goal attempts.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that happen,” Schneider said. “I think that speaks a little bit to our ability to make shots when we actually get them. Had we not been making shots, it would have been a completely different story.”
ESU went a perfect 16-for-16 from the line and also out-rebounded NWMSU 29-13 in the first 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, NWMSU made just 8 of 39 shots (21 percent) and had just three defensive rebounds in the first half.
The Lady Hornets, who led by as many as 30 in the second half, watched as their lead dwindled all the way down to 11 with 7:22 to go.
“I saw us turn the ball over every way imaginable,” Schneider said, “and consequently, it put them in a position to cut it to single digits.”
NWMSU never did, as Stueve scored six of her team’s next 10 points — including the record-tier and record-breaker — to hold off the Bearcats.
Stueve, who tied her season-high with 27 points, made 8 of 11 shots and went 7-for-9 from three-point range.
Though she said she knew before the game that the record was near, Stueve said she wasn’t counting down to it.
“I knew I was close. I didn’t know it would happen tonight,” Stueve said. “I don’t think that’s something you can play with in your head. It will mess you up more than anything. I just tried to do my job.”
Leiker and Cassondra Boston added 14 points each for ESU.
Stueve is left with only one more scoring record to break: ESU’s career scoring mark of 2,378 points set by Carolyn Richard from 1982-87.
If she were to keep up her 21-point average, Stueve would need to play four games in the NCAA Tournament to break the mark.
Emporia State women 86, NW Missouri St. 67
NW Missouri St. 20 47 — 67
No. 24 ESU 44 42 — 86
NW Missouri State (11-9, 6-5 MIAA) — Mandi Schumacher 8-14 1-1 17, Jessica Burton 5-11 1-2 12, Kelli Nelson 4-17 1-2 10, Andrea Dill 3-5 2-2 9, Meghan Brue 3-8 2-2 8, Lauren Williams 2-5 0-0 6, Lindsey Bayer 1-4 1-1 3, April Miller 1-4 0-0 2, Emma Frost-Briley 0-2 0-0 0, Micaela Uriell 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 27-74 8-10 67.
Emporia State (15-5, 8-3 MIAA) — Michelle Stueve 8-11 7-9 27, Cassondra Boston 4-11 6-6 14, Andrea Leiker 5-9 2-2 14, Lacy Corker 4-6 0-0 8, Alli Volkens 1-2 4-4 6, Allie Renberg 3-7 0-0 6, Becky Zabel 2-3 0-0 4, Jamie Augustyn 1-2 0-0 3, Bree Kisner 0-3 2-2 2, Ida Edwards 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 29-58 21-23 86.
3-point goals — NW Missouri State 5-16 (Williams 2-2, Burton 1-2, Nelson 1-5, Dill 1-1, Frost-Briley 0-2, Miller 0-1, Bayer 0-1, Brue 0-2), Emporia State 7-17 (Stueve 4-6, Leiker 2-4, Augustyn 1-2, Kisner 0-2, Corker 0-1, Boston 0-2). Fouled out — NW Missouri State: None; Emporia State: None. Rebounds — NW Missouri State 26 (Schumacher 6), Emporia State 51 (Stueve 10). Assists — NW Missouri State 19 (Miller 6), Emporia State 22 (Boston 5). Total fouls — NW Missouri State 20, Emporia State 14. Att — 2,161.
Comments
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Posted by emporialifer (anonymous) on February 8, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations Michelle - what a special night!
Posted by create (anonymous) on February 8, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give yourself a click, Michelle!!! ;)
Posted by Go_Emporia (anonymous) on February 8, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't think of a more deserving or more humble player than Michelle.
Congratulations, Michelle on a well-earned honor!
Posted by emporia (anonymous) on February 10, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What an amazing gal! See??? Hard work and good ethics eventually get rewarded in life. Yea, Michelle! You ARE a very humble and deserving athlete. Congratulations!
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