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CANYON, Texas -- The Lady Blues reached their fifth NCAA Elite Eight win a 73-58 win over Emporia State in the South Central Regional Finals in Canyon, Texas. Washburn will now face No. 3 ranked South Dakota in the national quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. in Kearney, Neb.

Washburn led 30-22 at the half after hitting 41 percent of their shots while holding the Lady Hornets to 7 of 20 from the field. The Lady Blues went 7:24 without a point after the Lady Blues led 19-8, but ESU cut the lead to 19-17 before Corkey Stiger broke the scoreless streak with a lay up at the 5:01 mark. Stiger scored the next five points to push the lead to seven at 26-19 before taking the eight-point lead into the break.

In the second half, Washburn pushed the lead to 15 at 39-24 with 16 minutes remaining before the Lady Hornets trimmed the lead to five at 39-34 on a free throw by Ida Edwards. After five straight points by Stiger on a jumper and 3-pointer stretched the lead back to 10 at 44-34 with 10:15 left in the game.

After an 8-2 run by ESU, Hope Gregory canned a 3-pointer from the wing with 7:36 left in the game at 49-42. The Lady Hornets came back and cut the lead to three at 52-49 on a 3-pointer by Michelle Stueve with 6:03 left in the game. Janice Bright hit a couple of free throws for the Lady Blues stretching the lead to 55-50.

With 4:20 left in the game and Washburn holding on to a 57-53 lead, Bright hit a lay up and Stiger hit two free throws after a steal pushing the lead to eight at 61-53. Another lay up by Bright stretched the margin to 10 and the Lady Hornets would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Stiger, who became only the third Lady Blue to reach 1,000 points in a two-year career, led the Lady Blues with a game-high 31 points. Stiger now has 1,016 in her career and was named the South Central Regional Most Valuable Player. Bright finished with 16 and Amanda Holmes scored 10 points. Holmes also earned all-region honors.

Stueve led the Lady Hornets with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Andrea Leiker scored 10 points.

Washburn finished 45 percent for the game from the field hitting 21 of 47 attempts from the field while holding ESU to 19 of 52 from the field.

ESU outrebounded the Lady Blues 39-28 on the glass.

Notes:
* Washburn is now 2-0 on St. Patrick's Day.
* The Lady Blues are now 23-10 in the NCAA Tournament.
* Washburn is now 3-2 in regional finals under Ron McHenry.
* Washburn improved to 3-0 in NCAA games in Texas.
* Washburn improved to 7-3 against MIAA teams in the NCAA tournament and now 3-1 against Emporia State in the NCAA Tournament.