EMPORIA, Kan. -- No. 4 Emporia State's combined offensive efficiency and the ability to control the glass to come away with a 77-55 win over Midwestern State Saturday afternoon on Slaymaker Court at W.L. White Auditorium.
 
"We just didn't score very well and we didn't rebound the way we needed to," MSU coach Noel Johnson said. "Credit to Emporia State, they have some big post girls who were physical and able to push us around. They exposed some weaknesses and that's why you play these games."
 
The Hornets, who improved to 6-0 on the season, controlled a 39-22 rebounding edge snagging 20 of those on the offensive to convert 25 second-chance to take control of the game.
 
Emporia State burst out of the gates on a 9-2 run before the Mustangs countered to take a 10-9 lead as the game remained throughout the opening 15 minutes.
 
But the Hornets connected on three of their four first-half 3-pointers to open up a 39-24 advantage at the half and stretched the lead to 19 early in the second half.
 
MSU junior guard Dianna Jones scored 12 of the Mustangs' first 16 points after intermission including her lone 3-pointer of the ball game to pull MSU to within eight with 12 minutes to play.
 
She would finish with a team-high 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor while connecting on 7-of-8 free throws.
 
"Dianna had a great second half for us," Johnson said. "We tried to key in on getting their girls in foul trouble in the second half to try to chip away at the free throw line. We just have to be a little more aggressive from the jump."
 
The Hornets answered with a run of their own to push the margin out to a game-high 23 points with 8:12 to play.
 
Senior guard Rheanna Egli paced a group of four ESU players in double figures with 15 points and five assists hitting two 3-pointers, while senior guard Laura Patrick also connected on a pair of treys to finish with 14 points.
 
Senior forward Desiree Wylie added 13 points and nine rebounds, senior forward Kionna Kellogg had 11 points and junior forward Amber Vandiver chipped in nine points and a game-high 11 boards.
 
MSU junior forward Andrea Carter added nine points and a team-high three rebounds while junior forward Taylor Dowd, senior forward Skyler Warrick and junior forward Shambreka Jones finished with six points each.
 
The Mustangs return to action Tuesday night against McMurry at Kimbrell Arena in Abilene. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.