Box Score
Bolivar, Mo. - Madison Strong scored 27 points but it was not enough as the Bearcats fall to the Hornets of Emporia State 80-77. The loss puts the Bearcats record at 6-15 (2-10 MIAA).
 
To start the game SBU found themselves on the wrong side of a 10-0 run, the Bearcats would score their first points on a Strong 3 pointer with 6:01 remaining in the quarter. SBU defensively would hold Emporia State to only 6 points for the remaining of the quarter and the Bearcats would cut the Hornet lead to 16-11 at the end of the quarter.
 
In the second quarter, the Bearcats offense was on fire as they hit on 50% of their shots and connected on 6 three-pointers. Out of those 6 three-pointers, Strong hit 4 while Laura Vierkant and RayShee Smith both hit 1. As a result of the hot shooting from the Bearcats SBU outscored Emporia State 24-19 in the quarter, this tied things up at halftime 35-35.
 
To start the third quarter Caylee Richardson scored the first points on a layup giving SBU a 37-35 lead with 8:57 remaining. After the shot by Richardson, both teams would trade baskets. As the clock read 6:01, SBU attempted to make a substitution. The referees thought the Bearcats had 6 players on the floor, as Madison Strong came in for RayShee Smith. In all of the confusion, SBU was charged with a technical foul for having too many players on the floor. The Hornets made both free throws and scored on their following possession. With 4:16 remaining the Hornets would gain a 58-48 lead. But this would be as big of a lead that Emporia State would build as SBU would cut the lead and at the end of the third quarter the Bearcats would only trail the Hornets 58-52.
 
The start of the fourth quarter SBU and Emporia State would trade buckets, and the Hornets would hold a 70-62 lead with 3:47 remaining in the game. However, from this point in the game, Richardson and Strong would go on a 13-3 run together and would give the Bearcats a 75-73 lead with 1:35 remaining in the game. This, however, would be the last time that SBU would have the lead in the game as Emporia State finish the game on a 7-2 run and the Bearcats would fall 80-77.
 
SBU was led by Strong who tallied up 27 points while making a total of 9 three-pointers, tying the school record for most three's in a game. Richardson also added a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Regan Tibbits added 10 points. As a team SBU shot 41% from the field and 41.9% from the three-point line, the Bearcats also hit 13 three-pointers and tallied 43 rebounds.
 
SBU will be back in action on Saturday, February 9th as they face Washburn at 1:30 PM.