Emporia State to face Pittsburg State in NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament

The Emporia State women’s basketball team has had its way with Pittsburg State this season, beating the Gorillas three times. But if the Hornets want to play any more basketball this season, they’ll have to beat Pitt State one more time.

Emporia State will face Pittsburg State for a spot in the NCAA Division II Central Regional final after both won tournament openers Friday in Hays, Kan.

The Hornets, seeded second, beat Arkansas Tech 68-51 after falling behind by 11 points in the first half. Merissa Quick had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Kelly Moten scored a team-high 15 points.

The No. 3 seed Gorillas held on for a 60-53 victory over Northern State (S.D.) after seeing their lead shrink to one with under 6 minutes to play. Mikaela Burgess scored a team-high 12 points for Pitt State, which will play Emporia State at 5 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals.

▪ No. 1 seed Fort Hays State beat No. 8 seed Minnestota State-Mankato 74-57 on the other side of the Central Regional bracket. Chelsea Mason led the way with 21 points for Fort Hays State. Mason made four of 14 three-pointers.

▪ Fort Hays State’s Kate Lehman was chosen Division II Central Region player of the year and was joined on the All-Central Region first team by Pittsburg State’s Lizzy Jeronimus.

▪ In the Midwest Regional women’s quarterfinals in Houghton, Mich., third-seeded Drury lost 75-61 on Friday to No. 6 seed Wayne State. The Panthers, 26-4, shot a season-low 27 percent, making eight of their first 48 attempts.

▪ The NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament starts Saturday. In the Midwest Region quarterfinals, No. 8 seed Drury, 21-8, faces No. 1 seed and host Bellarmine, 27-3, at 5 p.m. in Louisville, Ky. In the Central Region quarterfinals in Sioux Falls, S.D., No. 3 seed Central Missouri, 24-6, plays No. 6 seed Northern State (S.D.), 23-8, at noon; No. 7 seed Pittsburg State, 20-11, faces No. 2 seed Minnesota State-Morehead, 32-3, at 2:30 p.m.; and No. 4 seed Northwest Missouri, 23-6, meets No. 5 seed Minnesota State-Mankato, 24-7, at 8 p.m.

This story was originally published March 13, 2015 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Emporia State to face Pittsburg State in NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament."