Women's Basketball | 1/16/2026 3:04:00 PM

GAME 17
Emporia State (8-8, 2-5 MIAA) vs. CENTRAL MISSOURI (12-4, 6-1 MIAA)
Saturday, January 178, 2026 • 1:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
Series Record: UCM leads 45-44 Last Meeting: at UCM70, ESU 61 (1/1/26)
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: at Northeaster State • January 22 • 5:30 p.m. • Tahlequah, Okla. • NSU Events Center

END OF THE HOME STAND  
The Lady Hornets wrap up their four game home stand with a matinee against Central Missouri.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-8 on the season, 2-5 in the MIAA.  Kaitlyn Sanders is the  third leading scorer in the MIAA at 16.5 points per game. She is joined in double figures by Gracie Gilpin at 12.3 points. 

ABOUT THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 12-4, 6-1 in the MIAA. The Jennies lead the league in rebound margin. Reese Schaaf is the second leading scorer in the MIAA at 17.6 points per game while averaging 8.1 rebounds. Taylor Weishaar adds 14.2 points and 7.5 boards per game.

ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 8-8 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 59-54 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 Central Missouri.
Dave Slifer is 450-198 in his 22nd year at UCM and 834-297 in his 36th season overall. He is 32-41 all-time against Emporia State, 22-22 at UCM.

SERIES HISTORY
Central Missouri leads the all-time series 45-44. The home team has won the last six meetings on campus. The Lady Hornets hold an 8-4 advantage in MIAA Tournament play and are 3-0 against the Jennies in the NCAA Tournament.  E

LAST TIME VS CENTRAL MISSOURI
The Lady Hornets mounted a second-half comeback before falling at Central Missouri 70-61 to open the year. The Jennies built a 51-34 lead with 2:31 left in the third quarter but the Lady Hornets closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to make it 51-41 going to the fourth. Kaitlyn Sanders scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to make it an 11-0 run and get ESU within 51-45 with 8:31 left. Emporia State would get within five points on two occasions over the next five minutes, both on Sanders three-pointers, but Central Missouri would go 11 of 14 from the free throw line in the final four minutes. Sanders led the Lady Hornets with 26 points and Gacie Gilpin added 13 points.

LAST TIME OUT
Washburn used a 17-2 run from the end of the third quarter to midway through the fourth on the way to a 63-52 win over the Lady Hornets in White Auditorium. Kaitlyn Sanders led the Lady Hornets with 12 points and Makenzie McDaniel added ten points and seven rebounds off the bench.
 
UP NEXT
With high school tournaments occupying White Auditorium for the next two weeks, Emporia State will start at four game road trip on Thursday, January 22 at Northeastern State.  Tip-off from the NSU Events Center in Tahlequah, Okla. is set for 5:30 p.m.

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