Box score | Season stats

EMPORIA, Kan. -- Outside shooting was the story Wednesday night in Emporia, as the SBU Bearcats stayed with the #10 Emporia State Lady Hornets for most of the contest before falling 103-90. SBU hit 14 of 24 (58%) from outside but ESU was better, going 15 of 20 (75%). Ashleigh Gallio led SBU (6-16, 4-11 MIAA) with a career high 28 points, while Rachel Graves added 26 points.

Gallio hit 8 of 11 from outside while Graves was 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Gallio's 28 points were an SBU season high and Graves was just one point off her career mark, set earlier this year versus Maryville. Courtney Heady had a career high eight assists. Freshman Kourtni Williams scored in double figures (11 points) for the third straight game while Whitney Malone added 10 points, which tied her career best. The Bearcats also shot a season high percentage from outside (58.3%) and from the foul line (84.6% - 22 of 26).

"There's a reason Emporia is one of the top teams in the nation. They have five really good offensive threats," said SBU head coach J.C. Carter. "Even still, I thought we gave a good defensive effort and our players did what I asked. We passed the ball well but ESU just shot it better. We've certainly improved since the last time we played them (January 2 in Bolivar). Gallio was lights out from outside, Graves got to the foul line and Heady played well at the point with eight assists."

The hot-shooting from outside started early, as the teams combined to hit 11 threes in the first ten minutes of action. A layup from ESU's Negesti Taylor gave the Lady Hornets a 37-30 edge before the Bearcats used a 10-2 spark to lead 40-39. ESU led 54-47 after the high-scoring first half of action.

The Bearcats closed the margin to 61-59 on free throws from Graves with 14:46 left. ESU scored the next ten points to go up by 12 points with 11:30 left. The Lady Hornets had their largest margin at 92-73 with 5:44 remaining before the Bearcats would close the gap in the final portion of the game.

Cassonda Boston led MIAA-leading Emporia (21-2, 14-2 MIAA) with 33 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Alli Volkens added 16 points as ESU put five players in double figures.

The loss snapped a three-game SBU winning streak, but Carter said his team can still take something from tonight, heading to another ranked team on Saturday. "Emporia is all-offense while Washburn is more defensive-minded. We have confidence offensively after the last few games and the fact that we scored (a season high) 90 points against the MIAA's top team," he added.

The tough road trip for SBU continues Saturday, when the Bearcats visit the #13 Washburn Lady Blues, starting at 5:30 p.m. from Lee Arena in Topeka.