Kansas City, MO - Alli Volkens scored a career high 29 points with 18 rebounds and three blocked shots but it wasn't enough for Emporia State as the Lady Hornets fell 79-63 to #22 Northwest Missouri on Sunday in the MIAA Tournament Championship game.
NWMSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first four minutes ESU answered with a 10-3 run of their own to pull within 13-10 with 14:22 left in the half. The Bearcats had a 14 point lead at 38-24 with 5:02 remaining in the half before settling in for a 44-36 lead at the break.
In the second half ESU would use a 12-4 run to close the gap to 52-50 wtih 12:58 left on an old fashioned three point play by Alli Volkens. Over the next five minutes NWMSU would grow the lead to ten at 64-54 with 7:56 left. A Rachel Hanf three pointer cut the lead to seven with 7:20 left. The Bearcats then got buckets from Kyla Roehrig, Gentry Dietz and a three from Gabby Curtis to push the lead to double digits for good.
Volkens had 47 rebounds to break the previous MIAA Tournament record held by Jerri Wiley of SEMSU in 1991 and Rolanda Gladden of MSSU in 1993 by 13 boards. She also had 73 points to rank third behind ESU's Emily Bloss' 76 points in 2001 and WU's Jennifer Harris' 75 points in 2006. She was joined in double figures by Kelsey Balcom with ten points and ten rebounds while Rheanna Egli added ten points and six assists.
Kyla Roehrig led NWMSU with 26 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. She was joined in double figures by Gentry Dietz with 15 points, Gabby Curtis with 13 and Shelly Martin with 12 points.
Emporia State was not selected as an at-large team to the NCAA II tournament.
NOTES:
- Volkens ends her career as the 14th leading scorer in ESU history at 1,360 points; fourth in career rebounds with 895; second in career blocks with 216; and fourth in career made free throws with 450.
- Volkens ends her career ranked third in single season rebounds with 365 boards; third in single season blocks with 84; and third in single season made free throws with 179 free throws.
- Volkens ends her career ranked second in single season rebounds with 365 this year and eighth in career rebounds with 895 in 126 games.
- ESU has now lost four MIAA Tournament championship games and is 4-4 all-time in tournament title games.
