Lady Hornets Finish First Semester With 73-62 Win At Lincoln

December 21, 2024-The Lady Hornets jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never trailed in a 73-62 win at Lincoln on Saturday afternoon.
 
Freshmen Elizabeth Tjaden and Makenzie McDaniel combined to score the first nine points of the game for Emporia State capped by a three-pointer from Tjaden with 7:40 left in the quarter.  The Blue Tigers would go the first 6:19 of the game without a free throw as the Lady Hornets led 13-2 before Ayreona Carter scored their first field goal.  Lincoln ended the period on a 10-6 run as ESU led 19-12 after one.
 
Hanne Nybo scored on a jumper with 5:22 left to get the Blue Tigers within 26-24, but the Lady Hornets responded with a 9-0 run to go up 35-24 with 2:30 left in the half.  Lincoln would cut the deficit back to five on a Biance Stocks pull up with 29 seconds left but Jayla Cornelius scored at the buzzer to give Emporia State a 37-30 lead at the break.
 
Lincoln scored the first six points of the third period on three-pointers from Emma Wolken and Stocks to make it 37-36 with 6:42 left in the quarter.  McDaniel hit a pair of free throws with 5:46 left and Katie Horyna scored following a Macey Gandee steal to put the Lady Hornets up 41-36 with 5:23 remaining in the quarter.  The Blue Tigers were within 44-40 with 4:02 left when Katie Horyna went on a personal 9-4 run to put Emporia State up 53-44 with 1:42 left in the period. Macy Smith would hit a three-pointer with three seconds left push the lead back to double digits at 56-46 headed into the fourth quarter.
 
Smith then gave the Lady Hornets their biggest lead of the game at 59-46 with a three to start the fourth.  Lincoln would not get closer than seven points the rest of the day as Emporia State coasted to the 73-62 win and third victory in their last four games.
 
Makenzie McDaneil led Emporia State with a career high 22 points to go with 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. She was joined in double figures by Katie Horyna with 15 poitns, five rebounds and four assists.
 
The Lady Hornets head into the Division II Life in the Balance break with a 6-5 record. They will be back in action on Thursday, January 2 when they play host to Central Missouri.  Tip-off in White Auditorium is set for 5:30 p.m.