Women's Basketball | 1/20/2026 3:57:00 PM

GAME 18
Emporia State (9-8, 3-5 MIAA) at NORTHEASTERN STATE (13-3, 5-2 MIAA)
Thursday, January 22, 2026 • 5:30 p.m. • Tahlequah, Okla. • NSU Events Center
Series Record: ESU leads 25-8 Last Meeting: NSU 61, at ESU 56 (1/24/26)
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 UA-Fort Smith • January 23 • 3:30 p.m. • Fort Smith, Ark. • Stubblefield Center

HITTING THE ROAD  
The Lady Hornets begin a four game road trip to the southern part of the MIAA at Northeastern State.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 9-8 on the season, 3-5 in the MIAA and have played the fourth toughest schedule in the MIAA to date.  Kaitlyn Sanders is the third leading scorer in the MIAA at 16.8 points per game. Gracie Gilpin adds 12.0 points per game. 

ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 13-3, 5-2 in the MIAA and have played the 12th toughest schedule in the MIAA to date. The RiverHawks lead the league in turnover margin. McKenzie Smith is their leading scorer at  13.2 points per game.

ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 9-8 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 60-54 in her fourth year as a head coach at a four year institution. She has won 343 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 at EFSC.  This is her first meeting with Northeastern State.
Keith Ferguson is 38-35 in his third season at NSU and 159-122 in his 11th year overall. He is 2-2 against ESU at Northeastern State and 2-3 overall.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia Sate leads the all-time series 24-8 and have won 18 of the last 21 meetings. The Lady Hornets are 8-3 in the NSU Event Center.

LAST TIME VS NORTHEASTERN STATE
In a game that saw eight ties and ten lead changes the Lady Hornets came up short 61-56 to Northeastern State. ESU led 30-28 with 8:54 left in the third quarter but would not hit another field goal until the 2:03 mark of the period. The RiverHawk lead reached seven points at 54-47 with 6:13 remaining.  Elizabeth Tjaden then hit a three-pointer with 4:57 left followed by an old fashioned three-point play 22 seconds later to get the Lady Hornets within 54-53.  A Jayla Cornelius hoop and harm with 1:49 left tied the game at 56.  With the shot clock winding down Northeastern State banked in a three to take a 59-56 lead with 1:18 left. Emporia State had three chances in the final 17 seconds to tie the score and could not convert. Janiyah Alvarez scored 14 points to go with ten rebounds and was joined in double figures by Tjaden with 12 points. 

LAST TIME OUT
In a game of runs, the Lady Hornets came out on top against the visiting Jennies for a 76-70 win to complete their homestand. Central Missouri closed the first quarter with five straight points, to take a 22-20 lead into the second frame. The Lady Hornets outscored the Jennies 9-2 to end the second quarter and take a 35-32 lead into the break. UCM outscored Emporia State 14-6 over the first five minutes of the third quarter, taking a 46-41 lead. The Lady Hornets then put together a 14-4 run to end the third, including a steal and layup from Kaitlyn Sanders in the final seconds to go ahead 55-50. Emporia State scored nine of the first 13 points of the fourth quarter, expanding their lead to 64-54, which forced a Central Missouri timeout. The Lady Hornets built their largest lead of the game with 4:00 left on a layup from Kaylin Noonan to make the score 68-57. Central Missouri clawed back, eventually closing the gap to 72-70 with 39 seconds left after six points in 13 seconds. The Lady Hornets closed out the game by converting all four free throws to seal the 76-70 win.  Kaitlyn Sanders led the Lady Hornets with 22 points. Vanessa Coleman joined Sanders in double-digits with 18 points  while Micah Hannah had nine rebounds and six assists. 

UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets make their first MIAA trip to Arkansas as they play at Ark.-Fort Smith on Friday in the MIAA TV Game of the Week. Tip off from the Stubblefield Center is set for 3:30 p.m. 

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