Sixth Ranked Pitt State Pulls Away From Lady Hornets Late

February 6, 2025-The Lady Hornets went toe to toe with sixth ranked Pittsburg State three quarters but the Gorillas pulled away late for an 82-61 victory on Thursday in Pittsburg, Kan.
 
Pitt State led 19-9 with 3:30 left in the first quarter, but Emporia State scored the final seven points to pull within 19-16 headed to the second.
 
A Katie Horyna layup with 9:00 left in the second got the Lady Hornets within 21-19.  The Gorillas led by nine with 2:40 left but the Lady Hornets would hold them scoreless the rest of the half.  Makenzie McDaniel scored with 37 seconds left to cut the lead to 37-31.  Elizabeth Tjaden hit a three at the buzzer, but after review it was ruled late as Emporia State trailed by six at the break.
 
Emporia State scored five of the first seven points of the second half as a Gracie Gilpin's three pointer with 8:36 left got the Lady Hornets within 39-36. The Gorillas went on an 11-5 run and took a 50-41 lead with 5:18 left in the quarter on a Sydney Holmes jumper. The Lady Hornets answered with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes and Janiyah Alvarez layup tied the game at 50 with 1:39 left. After a jump ball gave the ball back to Pitt State with a minute left Macie Mays scored inside to give the Gorillas a 52-50 lead. Jayla Cornelius drove the paint and tied the score at 52 with 30 seconds left.  At the buzzer Harper Schreiner hit a three that held up after review and the Gorillas led 55-52 headed to the fourth quarter.
 
Horyna scored to open the fourth quarter to get the Lady Hornets within 55-54.  On the ensuing possession Cornelius blocked layup by Hannah Nilges, grabbed the rebound and hit Macey Gandee on the run for a layup that rimmed out. Macie Mays scored on the other end, was fouled and hit the and one to give the Gorillas a 58-54 lead with 8:35 left that would ignite an 11-0 run. Horyna converted an old fashioned three-point play with 4:36 left to get the Lady Hornets within 66-57 but the Gorillas ended the game on a 16-4 run to pull away for the final score.
 
Mackenzie McDaniel led Emporia State with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.  She was joined in double figures by Gracie Gilpin, Katie Horyna and Jayla Cornelius all with 12 points.

The Lady Hornets will be back in action on Saturday when they take on Missouri Southern.  Tip-off from the Leggett & Platt Center in Joplin, Mo. is set for 1:30 p.m.