Senior guard Cassondra Boston attacks the MTU defense Tuesday night in the St. Joseph Civic Arena in St. Joseph Mo. Kellen Jenkins/ The Bulletin

With a trip to the Final Four on the line, the Emporia State women’s basketball team rose to the occasion and beat Michigan Tech University Tuesday night, 91-85.

The win gave the Hornets a birth in the National Semifinal for the first time since 1999.

Senior guard Lacy Corker drove the lane to give the Hornets their first points of the contest. Following a Tech three pointer, sophomore guard Brittney Miller hit a trey of her own, bringing the score to 5-3.

Michigan Tech went on a 9-2 run that was halted by the first media timeout of the game with 15:48 left to play in the half and a 12-7 lead. After the timeout and another Huskies basket, senior guard Sophia Lenard earned her first two points on the night on a slashing move to the basket.

Senior guard Lacy Corker takes a three point shot Tuesday night against MTU in St. Joseph Mo. Kellen Jenkins/ The Bulletin

Another Michigan Tech three pointer led to another Lenard drive – this time, she was fouled and made the free throw, converting on the traditional three-point play which cut the Huskies’ lead to three, 17-14.

Junior forward Negesti Taylor scored on the low block, getting the Hornets within one, until on the ensuing Hornets possession, Lenard knocked down a three-pointer in transition which gave ESU a 19-17 lead with11:46 remaining in the first half.

A timeout on the floor stopped the action with 7:58 left in the half, the Hornets trailing the Huskies by one, 23-24.

A basket on the low block from junior forward Alli Volkens tied the game at 27-all with just over five minutes remaining in the half.

The final media timeout saw Emporia State down by one point, 31-32, with 3:18 left in the half.

Both teams traded points back and forth until a timeout from ESU Coach Brandon Schneider paused the action with 32.7 seconds on the clock and a 35-37 deficit. The half ended with the same score.

To start the second half, a pair of free throws from Taylor tied the game at 37-all, which was followed by a layup from senior guard Cassondra Boston that gave the Hornets a two point lead.

After a series of trading baskets, a three-pointer from Boston gave ESU a two point edge, 46-44, with just over 15 minutes in the game.

Junior center Nejesti Taylor shoots over a MTU dfender Tuesday night in St. Joseph Mo. Kellen Jenkins/ The Bulletin

Following a media timeout, two more free throws from Volkens pushed the Hornets’ lead to four, 48-44. A basket down low and another pair of charity points from Volkens led the Hornets to a 52-46 lead with 12:30 left in the contest.

Momentum on their side, Emporia State went up by 10, 64-54, with 8:30 left to play thanks to a traditional three point play from Volkens that was followed up by a three-pointer form senior guard Jamie Augustyn. However, the Huskies came back with a 5-0 run that forced Schneider to call timeout with 7:21 to play and the score at 64-59 in favor of ESU.

Out of the timeout, the Hornets put together a small run of their own, getting score to 70-59 with just over six minutes in the game.

The final media timeout of the game came with 3:46 remaining and Emporia State commanding an eight point lead over Michigan Tech, 76-68.

In the end, the deficit couldn’t be overcome by the Huskies as the Hornets went on to win the contest, 91-85.

Schneider commented on his team’s efforts after the game.

“I’m obviously really proud of our guys because I think we just beat a really, really good basketball team,” Schneider said.

Volkens led the Hornets in scoring with a career high 28-point outing on 10-11 shooting from the field, along with eight rebounds and three blocks.

Boston believed that it was Volkens’ time to shine.

“Alli just had a great night tonight,” Boston said. “It was her night tonight. She was on.”

Volkens said that she was in the zone throughout the contest.

“I guess I was feeling it a little bit,” Volkens said. “They were kind of sagging off, and I was open so I just shot it.”

Lenard contributed 22 points off the bench, and Boston added 19 of her own along with eight assists to round out the Hornets in double figures.

Up next for the Hornets is a trip to the Final Four where the team will play #1 Gannon University (37-0) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph, Mo.

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