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Setting the Scene:
The Griffons fell in the MIAA opener on Wednesday night in Pittsburg, Kan. falling 82-57 against the Gorillas. Western will return home for the first time since November 12 when they fell to Quincy 91-68 in their season opener. The Griffons open up home MIAA action against Emporia State a team that is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play after a 68-56 victory over the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats in Maryville, Mo. The Griffons snapped a seven game losing streak n the Lynn Plett era last season in St. Joseph with a 78-71 victory on January 26, 2011. Coach Plett walked out of the hospital that day due to an emergency appendectomy to guide the Griffons to victory.

Top 11 in Scoring:
Missouri Western's senior guard/forward leads the MIAA in scoring dumping in 21.8 points per contest. She has 109 points on the season.

Emporia State has a very balanced scoring attack with Rachel Hanf leading the charge dumping in 13 points per game which puts her 10th in the conference. Kelsey Balcom is 11th dumping in 12.8 points per game.

Griffons against ESU in the Plett ERA:
Western is 1-7 in the Plett era against the ESU with all thee of the seven losses coming in the fieldhouse. ESU was the last MIAA team that Plett had not beaten before the 78-71 victory last season in the fieldhouse. In the fieldhouse under Plett against ESU the Griffons are 1-3. Western fell in his first season 100-87 on February 9, 2008. Yanique Javois dumped in 39 points on 16-27 from the field while Jill Johnson, Chemia Woods and Tierra Ford scored 19, 15 and 13 respectively. The Lady Hornets were led by Michelle Stueve with 29 points while Ida Edwards scored 23. On January 28, 2009 the Griffons fell 89-70. London Houchin led the Griffs with 19 points while Tierra Ford and Jessica Koch dumped in 14 and 12 respectively. Andrea Leiker, Cassondra Boston and Ida Edwards scored 16 apiece. Edwards and Allie Renberg collected double-doubles for ESU. Last season Western fell 71-62 on December 5, 2009. Chalonda Bozeman and Kallie Schoonover had 12 and 11 points respectively. The Lady Hornets were led by Cassondra Boston with 25 points. Last season on January 26 the Griffons defeated the Hornets 78-71 behind Rachel Luteyn's 34 points, 8 blocks and 8 rebounds. Jessica Koch dumped in 21 points while Alicia Bell recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Coaches vs. Each Program:
Griffon head coach Lynn Plett is 1-7 overall against the Lady Hornets since coming to Missouri Western. He is 0-4 on the road and 1-3 in the fieldhouse.  Jory Collins is currently 1-1 against the Griffons since being at ESU. Collins is 1-0 in Emporia and 0-1 in St. Joseph.

The Series:
Emporia State and Western have met 75 times on the hardwood since their inaugural meeting during the 1976-77 season, an 83-64 Griffon victory. Since then, the Lady Hornets have held the upper edge on Western, as they hold a 43-32 record through the 35 years. The Griffons are 15-15 against ESU in the Fieldouse and 20-12 in White Auditorium in Emporia. The Griffons and Lady Hornets have matched up 11 times in post season play with Emporia State holding onto a 6-5 advantage.

On the Internet:
If you can't make it to the game you can watch live stats at http://www.sidearmstats.com/missouri/wbball/xlive.htm. You can listen to the game at http://www.680kfeq.com/section/view/missouri_western_griffons/89/ and you can watch the game at www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=289 for a minimal cost.