The Lady Hornets kicked off a three-game home stand, the first of which took place Sunday when they welcomed the Griffons of Missouri Western. From the opening tip, the Lady Hornets controlled the tempo of the game as they went on to win 62-55.

“Our goal was hold them to the 50s, and we knew that would be big for our offense if we did that,” said Laura Patrick, junior guard and accounting major.

The Lady Hornets got an early lead with a 12-4 run. The Griffons tied it at 14-14 with a layup with just fewer than nine minutes to go.

“Sarah (Wood) sparked us in the first half with two huge positions with a one and one and another baseline shot she got to go,” said head coach Jory Collins.

The Hornets led by as many as eight points in the first half, but with 48 seconds left they went into the locker room with just a four-point lead, thanks to a Griffon three-pointer.

Defense was the key in the second half, as the Hornets forced the Griffons to keep firing from the deep, despite shooting 0 percent in the half, as they went 0-10 from long range.

“We knew coming in their strength was to drive it,” said Merissa Quick, sophomore forward and crime and delinquencies major. “If we could force them to shoot perimeter shots and we get the rebound we would win.”

Quick hauled in nine total rebounds.

Emporia State had three girls score in double-digit points. Patrick led the way with 17 points and a team high of six assists. Rachel Hanf knocked down three baskets from long range to finish with 12 points, and Quick added 11 of her own.