Emporia State wins Division II women's hoops title

Emporia State wins Division II women's hoops title

Published Mar. 27, 2010 5:43 a.m. ET

Alli Volkens had 16 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks to help Emporia State win its first Division II women's basketball title with a 65-53 victory over Fort Lewis on Friday night.

Rachel Hanf added 15 points for the Hornets, who made it to the title game by knocking off previously unbeaten Gannon in overtime in the semifinals. Emporia State rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit in that game.

``It's the best feeling ever,'' Emporia senior guard Lacy Corker said. ``I smiled from ear to ear last night going to bed and I still am now.''

With the game tied at 38 with 8:34 left, Emporia State (30-5) scored the next seven points capped by Hanf's 3-pointer that made it 45-38 with 6:39 left.

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It was 48-42 when Hanf hit another 3-pointer a minute later to put the game away as Fort Lewis wouldn't get any closer than seven.

``I didn't think there were very many runs of substance, but there was one and they made it,'' Fort Lewis coach Mark Kellogg said. ``We could just never recover from it.''

Alison Rosel scored 18 points and Audrey George added 11 to lead Fort Lewis (35-4), which was playing in its first championship game.

Volkens was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Rosel and Laura Haugen were all-tournament selections for Fort Lewis with Emporia sophomore forward Brittney Miller and Cassondra Boston gobbling up the final two spots.

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