Women's Basketball | 1/2/2026 12:16:00 PM
GAME 13
Emporia State (7-5, 1-2 MIAA) at Washburn (9-3, 2-1 MIAA)
Saturday, January 2, 2026 • 1:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena
Series Record: ESU leads 63-52
Last Meeting: at WU 88, ESU 73 (1/15/25)
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: #7 Fort Hays State • January 8 • 5:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
TURNPIKE TUSSLE
The Lady Hornets travel up the Turnpike to take on Washburn.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 7-5 on the season, 1-2 in the MIAA.
Kaitlyn Sanders averages 18.3 points per game to rank second in the MIAA. She is joined in double figures by
Gracie Gilpin at 12.6 points.
Macey Gandee adds 6.5 rebounds and
Kaylin Noonan 6.3 boards per game.
ABOUT THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 9-3, 2-1 in the MIAA. The Ichabods are second in the league in scoring defense. Yiibari Nwidadah leads the MIAA in field goal percentage. Payton Sterk and Gabie Giovannetti average 12.6 and 12.3 points per game respectively.
ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 7-5 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 58-51 in her fourth year as a head coach at a four year institution. She has won 341 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. This is her first meeting with Washburn.
Lora Westling is 51-49 in her fourth season at Washburn and 166-159 in her 12th season overall. She is 3-3 against Emporia State.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Hornets lead the series 63-52 and have won 20 of the last 27 contests. The home team has won seven of the last nine with Emporia State's win in Topeka in 2023 and Washburn's win in White Auditorium last year the only road wins.
COACHING IN THE TUSSLE
Coaches in their first Turnpike Tussle are 6-7 all-time. Lady Hornet coaches have gone 6-2 while no Ichabod coach has won their first meeting in the rivalry. Seven people have coached at least ten times in the Turnpike Tussle. Emporia State's Debbie Jones went 9-1 (.900) from 1976-81 for the best winning percentage. Jory Collins was 15-6 (.714) from 2010-2018 and Toby Wynn went 6-4 (.600) from 2018-2023. Brandon Schneider was 13-19 from 1998-2010 and Val Scheirling went 11-17 from 1981-95. Ron McHenry is the only Washburn coach with at least ten games and a winning record in the Turnpike Tussle, going 29-28 from 2000-22 while Patty Dick was 20-26 from 1977-2000.
LAST TIME VS WASHBURN
The Lady Hornets could not overcome a 14-4 first quarter run in an 88-73 loss at Washburn.
Gracie Gilpin had 12 points in the first quarter but the rest of the Lady Hornets went a combined zero for 12 from the field in the opening period. The teams played fairly even until a 15-3 run gave the Ichabods a 75-56 lead with 7:10 left in the game.
Gracie Gilpin led Emporia State with 18 points with four three-pointers.
Katie Horyna and
Macey Gandee each had ten points while
Janiyah Alvarez led the Lady Hornets with seven rebounds.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Hornets opened 2026 with a road trip to Warrensburg and nearly mounted a second-half comeback before falling against Central Missouri 70-61.
The Jennies used an 8-1 run over the final two minutes of the first quarter to take an 18-13 lead into the second period.
Elizabeth Tjaden got Emporia State within 24-21 with 3:36 left in the half when UCM went on a 10-0 run to go up 34-21 with 1:24 left.
Kaitlyn Sanders scored the final four points of the half for Emporia State to get the deficit to single digits at 36-27 going to halftime.
The Jennies built a 51-34 lead with 2:31 left in the third but the Lady Hornets closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to make it 51-41 going to the fourth. 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 to earn the 70-61 victory.
Kaitlyn Sanders led the Lady Hornets with 26 points, her sixth game with 20 or more points this season.
Gracie Gilpin joined her in double figures with 13 points of her own.
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets return to White Auditorium to take on #7 Fort Hays State on Thursday, January 8. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
