Central Missouri Knocks Off No. 5 Emporia State

By David Boyce

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Deidra Dace's driving layup with 10 seconds left sealed Central Missouri's stunning 64-60 upset over No. 5 Emporia State.

The Hornets walked into the Multipurpose Building Wednesday evening as not only the hottest team in the MIAA, but one of the hottest in the country. Emporia State was riding a 14-game winning streak, including its last 12 conference games.

None of those things mattered to Central Missouri. The Jennies, fresh off a victory against Pittsburg State on Saturday, exuded confidence that they could again beat a team ahead of them in the standings.

"This was huge and what we needed," said Central Missouri senior Becca Roberts. "But we have a tough season still left ahead of us. They are a great team and it was just a team win. Everybody contributed."

It was an important victory for Central Missouri, which won for the fifth time in its last six games to improve to 12-9 overall and 8-6 in the MIAA. Emporia State dropped to 19-2 and 12-2.

"We had nothing to lose in this game, and we just wanted to prove that we are just as good as other teams in the league," said Dace, whose last basket gave Central Missouri a 63-58 lead with 11 seconds left.

Roberts scored the first four points of the game and her teammate, junior Danielle Shows, notched the next four points, staking Central Missouri to an 8-0 lead.

Meanwhile, a trend was developing for the Hornets that coach Brandon Schneider didn't like. His team attempted four three-pointers in the first four minutes and missed every one.

It's understandable why the Hornets felt comfortable behind the arc on Jan. 27. They knocked down 20 three-pointers against Missouri Western.

"Emporia shot the ball so well the last three games from the three that they were due to have a game where they struggled," Central Missouri coach Dave Slifer said. "It's a credit to them that they were 0-for-18 from three at one time and they were still right in the game.

"My kids are starting to figure out their roles."

Emporia State finally got on the scoreboard against Central Missouri on a layup by sophomore Brittney Miller with 16:32 left.

The Jennies answered with a three-pointer by Dace that gave Central Missouri an 11-2 lead and caused Emporia State to play catch-up the rest of the half.

"I think our poor execution was the result of a poor shooting night and poor decision making," Emporia State coach Brandon Schneider said. "You got to establish some sort of inside presence early in the game. Our first four shots were threes.

"Does our offense create threes? Sure it does, but when you don't knock them down you got to mentally understand that there is another approach."

Despite going 0-11 from three-point range in the first half, Emporia State managed to take a 25-24 lead on a layup by Alli Volkens with 3:40 remaining in the first half.

The Hornets' only other lead the entire game came with 50 seconds left in the first half on a layup by Cassondra Boston, making it 29-27.

Meghan Waggoner hit a jumper for the Jennies to send the game into halftime tied 29-29.

The second half started almost exactly like the first half with Roberts knocking down a short, 5-foot baseline jumper.

After three ties at 31-31, 33-33 and 35-35, the Jennies took control with seven straight points.

"It was good to have the lead," Roberts said. "We are usually a back and forth team. Emporia is known to make runs. We were up six or seven and that's what we needed."

Central Missouri was in complete control with 5:46 left when Roberts scored to push the lead to 59-50.

The Hornets, though, didn't make it easy for Central Missouri. They clawed back. A three-pointer by Jamie Augustyn with 1:25 left helped Emporia State close to 61-58.

And with 48 seconds left, Emporia State had a chance to tie but missed a three-pointer.

Central Missouri got the ball back, ran down the shot clock until only a few seconds were left, and that's when Dace made the layup to put the Jennies up by five.

"I was just thinking score," Dace said. "When the shot clock was going down I just had to get it up some kind of way.

"We stayed composed. Emporia is a great team and they are not going to lie down easy. We knew we had to keep our intensity the whole game."

Roberts led Central Missouri with 16 points and Shows added 12.

Boston was the only player in double figures for Emporia State, scoring a game-high 22.

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