Come from behind victory for Lady Hornets, 64-62 over Sioux Falls

November 9, 2024-Emporia State got 34 points from freshmen as they overcame a 14 point deficit to defeat Sioux Falls 64-62 on Saturday at the Central Regional Crossover at the St. Joseph Civic Arena.
 
Both teams struggled to score early with the Cougars holding a 6-3 lead the first media timeout.  They would stretch the first quarter lead to 13-5 with 2:16 left in the period and led 18-10 after the first ten minutes.
 
USF scored the first six points of the second quarter to go up 24-10 with 6:47 left in the half. Elizabeth Tjaden ignited an 8-0 run to cut the lead to six with 5:11 left on a Macey Gandee fast break bucket.  The Cougars pushed the lead back to 13 at 32-19 with 2:51 left. The Lady Hornets scored the final eight points of the half to cut the deficit to 32-27 headed to the locker rooms.
 
Sioux Falls led by nine at 40-31 with 6:19 left in the third quarter when Emporia State did a full line change, bringing in five new players. Freshman scored the next five points with Makenzie McDaniel scoring inside before Jayla Cornelius converted an old fashioned three-point play to make it 40-36 with 5:12 left in the quarter.  Cornelius grabbed a defensive rebound and fed Allie Ostermann for a fast break three-pointer to pull Emporai State within a point at 40-39 with 4:52 remaining.  After the media timeout USF stopped the run with a jumper by Anna Vaaler.  Makenna Clark got a steal and hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 42 with 3:57 left and Cornelius hit a driving layup with 3:26 left to give the Lady Hornets their first lead since 3-2.  The teams traded scores for the next two minutes until USF ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 49-46 lead to the fourth quarter.
 
Vaaler made it a five point lead to open up the fourth quarter for the Cougars before Gandee socred on a put back with 8:23 left to stop the USF run.  On the next possession Gandee got a block and Macy Smith grabbed the rebound to feed Tjaden for fast break three-pointer.  The freshman was fouled on the play and converted the four point play to give the Lady Hornets a 52-51 lead with 8:02 left. 
 
USF hit two free throws with 7:26 left to back in front but the Hornets responded with a Cornelius jumper and two free throws from Gracie Gilpin to take a 56-53 lead with 6:25 remaining. Emporia State took its biggest lead of the game at 59-54 on a pair of free throws from Cornelius with 4:48 left but Sioux Falls scored the next three points to close within tow at 59-57 with 4:07 left.  Tjaden then delivered a clutch three off a Cornelius assist with 3:52 left to push the lead back to five points at 62-57.  Janiyah Alvarez hit one of two free throws with 3:24 left to make it 63-59 and neither team would score over the next two minutes before Danielle Minsaas hit a fast break three with 1:13 left.  Cornelius was fouled with 25.5 seconds left and she hit one of two to give the Lady Hornets a 64-62 lead.  The Cougars had three shots in the final 15 seconds to tie or take the lead but could not convert as Emporia State held on for the 64-62 win.
 
Elizabeth Tjaden led all scorers with 14 points while Jayla Cornelius joined her in double figures with 12 points. Macey Gandee scored eight, Katie Horyna and Amaya Blake each scored six as ten different Lady Hornets scored. Faith Paramore, Horyna and Janiyah Alvarez all had five rebounds for Emporia State while Horyna dished a team high four assists.
 
The Lady Hornets are back in action on Wednesday, November 13 when they play host to Wayne State (Neb.) in their home debut.  Tip-off from Slaymaker Court in White Auditorium is set for 7:00 p.m.