Second half run leads Lady Hornets to 89-80 win over Ottawa

November 25, 2024-The Lady Hornets used a 17-2 run midway through the third quarter to take control in an 89-80 win over Ottawa on Field Trip Day at White Auditorium.
 
Emporia State led 10-6 early but the Braves used an 11-2 run to take a 17-12 lead with 3:34 left in the first quarter. Katie Horyna scored four straight to get the Lady Hornets back within a point at 17-16 but Ottawa closed the period scoring five of the final eight points to take a 22-19 lead into the second.
 
Horyna converted an old-fashioned three-point play to get Emporia State within 33-32 with 5:03 left in the half. Ottawa responded with a 10-2 run to go up 43-34 with 2:41 left in the half.  Horyna scored with 1:56 left for the Lady Hornets but the Braves scored the final five points to take a 48-36 lead to the locker rooms.
 
Ottawa went ahead 52-37 with 7:19 left when Emporia State made their run.  Elizabeth Tjaden ignited the run with driving layup followed by a three-pointer.  Gracie Gilpin hit one of two from the free throw line and Allie Ostermann hit a three-pointer to give ESU a 9-0 run and get within six at 52-46 with 5:25 left in the quarter.  After the Braves broke the run with a bucket from Abbie Sextro, the Lady Hornets rattled off another eight straight points and tied the game on a Horyna layup.  Ottawa got a pair of free throws from Janiyah Hendricks with 1:43 left for their final lead of the day at 56-54.  Emporia State got a bucket from Makenzie McDaniel 15 seconds later and the game went to the fourth quarter tied at 56.
 
The Lady Hornets took the lead for good on a Horyna layup with 9:23 to go and went up two possessions when Tjaden hit two free throws with 8:25 left. Horyna scored on a fast break from a Jayla Cornelius defensive rebound and assist to give Emporia State a 62-58 lead with 7:18 left and the Braves would never get the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead the rest of the game.  The Lady Hornets used an 8-1 run to go up 75-63 with 3:27 left and then took their biggest lead of the game at 78-65 with 2:32 left on a three-pointer from Ostermann.  ESU hit eight of ten free throws in the final 48 seconds for the final score of 89-90.
 
Katie Horyna tied her career high with 25 points and had a career high nine reboudns to go with seven assists and two steals.  She was joined in double figures by Elizabeth Tjaden with 13 points while Gracie Gilpin, Allie Ostermann and Jayla Cornelius all scored 12 points.
 
The Lady Hornets are back in action on Wednesday, November 27 when they travel to Rolla, Mo. to take on Missouri S&T.  Tip-off from Gibson Arena in the Bullman Multipurpose Building is set for 3:00 p.m.