Women's Basketball | 1/14/2026 9:22:00 AM

GAME 16
Emporia State (8-7, 2-4 MIAA) vs. WASHBURN (10-5, 3-3 MIAA)
Thursday, January 15, 2026 • 5:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
Series Record: ESU leads 63-53 Last Meeting: at WU 86, ESU 59 (1/3/26)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM
Internet Audio: kvoe.com | Television: None | Internet Video: The MIAA Network
Live Stats | Ticket Info | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Central Missouri • January 17 • 1:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium

THURSDAY TURNPIKE TUSSLE  
The Lady Hornets play host to Washburn in White Auditorium in their second meeting in 12 days.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-7 on the season, 2-4 in the MIAA.  Kaitlyn Sanders is the  third leading scorer in the MIAA at 16.8 points per game. She is joined in double figures by Gracie Gilpin at 12.5 points. 

ABOUT THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 10-5, 3-3 in the MIAA. The Ichabods lead the league in scoring defense. Yiibari Nwidadah leads the MIAA in field goal percentage. Payton Sterk and Gabie Giovannetti average 12.2 and 12.1 points per game respectively. 

ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 8-7 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 59-53 in her fourth year as a head coach at a four year institution. She has won 342 games as a collegiate coach and comes to Emporia State after an eight year run at Eastern Florida State College.  She went 183-58 with three conference championships and three trips to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament during her time.  She is 0-1 against Washburn.
Lora Westling is 52-51 in her fourth season at Washburn and 167-161 in her 12th season overall. She is 4-3 against Emporia State.

SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Hornets lead the series 63-53. The home team has won eight of the last ten with Emporia State's win in Topeka in 2023 and Washburn's win in White Auditorium last year the only road wins.

TUSSLE TID-BIT
When competitions in football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and women's soccer are added together Emporia State holds a 598-458-8 (.566) all-time advantage over Washburn.   

LAST TIME VS WASHBURN
The Lady Hornets fell 86-59 at Washburn.
The Ichabods jumped out to a 16-2 lead before Lady Hornets first field goal came at the 3:12 mark of the first frame. Emporia State trailed 23-6 heading into the second. The hosts took a 49-26 lead into the halftime break, shooting 11 of 17 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes. Following the break, the Lady Hornets put together their highest scoring quarter of the afternoon, scoring 23 points, but were unable to make up any ground as the Ichabods shot 75% from the floor and scored 24 of their own to lead the Lady Hornets 73-49 entering the final frame. Emporia State shot just 16-54 from the floor and 7-21 from three, while Washburn shot north of 50% and 12-20 from three, which included 11 makes in the first half.
Gracie Gilpin and Kaitlyn Sanders led the Lady Hornets with 13 and 12 points respectively.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Hornets completed a double-digit fourth quarter comeback on Saturday afternoon to take down visiting Nebraska-Kearney 82-78 in White Auditorium.
Nebraska-Kearney led by as much as ten in the opening quarter, but the Lady Hornets closed the gap to 24-18 heading into the second frame. Emporia State entered halftime trailing 47-37. The Lopers used a 9-0 run to go up 60-47 with 4:09 left in the third. Emporia State held UNK scoreless the rest of the quarter to get within 60-55  headed to the fourth. Neb.-Kearney scored the first seven points of the quarter for a 67-55 lead. Emporia State then went on a 13-2 run to cut the Loper lead to 69-68 with 4:18 remaining. With 1:59 remaining Vanessa Coleman gave Emporia State their first lead since the opening basket of the game at 76-75. Micah Hannah converted a contested jumper as the shot clock expired cap an 8-1 run and give ESU a two possession lead with 17 seconds left. Macey Gandee sealed the win with two free throws with 5.7 remaining for the 82-78 victory.
Kaitlyn Sanders had 19 points off the bench to lead four Lady Hornets in double figures. Coleman had 15 points, Gandee scored 14, and Hannah had ten points for ESU.

UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets wrap up a four game home stand on Saturday when they play host to Central Missouri. Tip-off from White Auditorium is set for 1:30 p.m. 

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