Lady Hornets fall to East Central in game of runs

November 22, 2024-The Lady Hornets gave up a pair of runs they could not recover from in a 79-67 loss to East Central (Okla.) on Friday night in White Auditorium.
 
The first quarter was a game of runs as the Tigers jumped out to an 11-0 lead to start the game before Katie Horyna got Emporia State on the board with a three-pointer at the 5:28 mark. She would score seven points during a 13-2 run that saw the Lady Hornets tie the game at 13 with 2:02 left in the opening period.
 
Elizabeth Tjaden scored four points during a 6-1 run that gave Emporia State a 21-16 lead with 7:42 left in the second quarter. The Lady Hornets maintained the lead until ECU's Claira Dannefer went on a personal 5-0 run to give the Tigers a 32-30 lead with 2:05 left in the half. The teams would combine to hit seven of eight free throws over the final 1:13 of the half as East Central took a 36-33 lead into the break.
 
The teams traded scores over the first five minutes of the third quarter as Emporia State trailed by two with 5:48 left on a Tjaden free throw.  The Tigers went up two scores on a Katie Edelen three pointer with 4:24 left but the Lady Hornets responded with a 9-2 run capped by Amaya Blake's three-pointer with 1:48 left that tied the game at 53-53.  ECU would score the final six points of the quarter, including an old fashioned three-point play with 0.6 seconds left to take a 59-53 lead after three quarters.
 
The Tigers scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to take a double digit lead with 8:30 remaining in the game. Horyna scored on a fast break off a Macy Smith rebound and throw ahead to end the ECU run and get ESU back with in eight points with 8:01 left.  The Lady Hornets would get two stops on the defensive end but could not convert and Chloe Malone beat the shot clock with 6:25 left to give the Tigers a 65-55 lead. Tjaden scored inside to make it 69-61 with 3:39 remaining when East Central went on a 6-0 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 77-61 with 1:23 left.
 
Katie Horyna led Emporia State with 22 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field with five rebounds, three assists and no turnovers.  She was joined in double figures by Elizabeth Tjaden with 13 points and a team high seven rebounds and four steals. 
 
The Lady Hornets will be back in action on Monday, November 25 when they play host to Ottawa University on Field Trip Day at White Auditorium.  Nearly 400 fifth grade students from Emporia schools will be in attendance for the matinee that will tip off at 12:00 p.m.