Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player Alli Volkens had 16 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks to lead Emporia State to their first ever women’s basketball national championship with a 65-53 victory over Ft. Lewis.

Cassondra Boston got ESU on the board first with a jumper before FLC went on an 8-0 run to take an early six point lead.  The Lady Hornets responded with a 14-2 run to go up 16-10 with 9:06 remaining.  ESU would hold the Skyhawks with out a field goal for 10:39 at one point. The Lady Hornets would take a 23-21 lead into the locker room.

Their were seven ties in the first 10:35 of the second half with the Skyhawks taking a brief 36-34 lead with 11:05 remaining.  After Katie Mackey tied it at 38 with 9:25 left, the Lady Hornets went on a 13-4 run to take command. Rachel Hanf hit three straight three pointers for ESU during the run, the last with 5:10 left to give ESU a 51-42 lead.

Volkens would trade baskets with the Skyhawks to keep the lead at nine with 3:07 left. The Lady Hornets would then hit eight of eight free throws with Boston going six of six with a lay-up in the final 1:49 to secure the first national championship as a Division II school for Emporia State.

Volkens was joined on the all-tournament team by Boston and Brittney Miller from ESU. Boston ended with 12 points while Miller added eight points and eight rebounds in the championship game.  Hanf had 15 points, going three of three from behind the arc and six of six from the free throw line.  Laura Haugen and Alsion Rosel represented FLC on the All-Tournament Team.

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–Courtesy Emporia State Athletics