By TOMMY REZAC

St. Joseph Post

ST. JOSEPH, MO. - Emporia State made 11 threes, scored 28 third quarter points and played one of their best games of the season in an 84-67 win over Missouri Western at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday.

The Hornets (13-12, 8-11 MIAA) jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first 3:25 of the game, and would never trail for the entire evening.

After getting beat by the Griffons 81-67 in Emporia this past Tuesday, the Hornets made the right adjustments on defense, turning Missouri Western over 17 times and holding them to 4-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc.

"I thought we were out toughed in every way in this game," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "Particularly to start. I mean, every loose ball. Every defensive rebound we should have been getting. (Emporia) is a very talented team. I think this team is capable of playing like this all of the time."

Emporia State was led in scoring by Tre'Zure Jobe, who had a game-high 22 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Ehlaina Hartman had 19 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three. Victoria Price had 16 points to go with four steals.

Corbyn Cunningham, playing in her final home game as a Griffon on Senior Night, led the Griffons (20-6, 14-6 MIAA) with 15 points - all in the second half. Jordan Cunningham came off the bench to score 13. Connie Clarke had her seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Griffons have two big road trips to round out the regular season - at No. 9 Fort Hays State (23-3, 17-3 MIAA) Wednesday and at Nebraska-Kearney (20-6, 15-5 MIAA) Friday. Both games start at 5:30 p.m.

"We have two opportunities ahead of us that are important," Whitaker said. "It's going to be up to our team. Are they going to show up? I think when we're good and we're locked in and we're being physical, I think we're as good as anyone in the league or maybe the country. And when we're not, we're not very good."