Women's Basketball | 1/22/2026 11:43:00 PM
GAME 19
Emporia State (9-9, 3-6 MIAA) at ARK. FORT SMITH (3-14, 2-6 MIAA)
Friday, January 23, 2026 • 3:30 p.m. • Fort Smith, Ark. • Stubblefield Center
Series Record: ESU leads 4-1
Last Meeting: UAFS 87, at ESU 68 (1/26/25)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM
Internet Audio:
kvoe.com |
Television: The Spot KC 38 |
Internet Video:
The MIAA Network
Live Stats |
Ticket Info |
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Rogers State • January 29 • 5:30 p.m. • Claremore, Okla. • Claremore Events Center
SNOW DAY
The Lady Hornets take on Ark.-Fort Smith a day early due to the forecasted winter storm.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 9-9 on the season, 3-6 in the MIAA and have played the fourth toughest schedule in the MIAA.
Kaitlyn Sanders is the third leading scorer in the MIAA at 16.3 points per game.
Gracie Gilpin adds 11.8 points per game.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Ark.-Fort Smith is 3-14, 2-6 in the MIAA. Telisa Brown is their leading scorer at 12.2 points per game while Marie Rose Priscilla Wemba grabs 6.0 rebounds per game.
ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 9-9 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 60-55 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 Ark.-Fort Smith.
Ryan McAdams is 49-79 in his fifth season at Ark.-Fort Smith. He is 1-0 against Emporia State.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia Sate won the first four meetings before Ark.-Fort Smith picked up a win last year in White Auditorium.
LAST TIME VS ARK.-FORT SMITH
The Lady Hornets were out-rebounded by 14 and out-scored by 24 points in the paint in an 87-68 loss to Ark.-Fort Smith.
Katie Horyna hit a three-pointer to get Emporia State within 28-25 with 7:02 left in the half before Ark.-Fort Smith went on a 13-3 run to take a 13 point lead with 2:14 left and took a 45-32 lead into the locker room. The Lady Hornets scored the first 11 points of the third quarter to get within 45-43 with 7:09 left in the period.
Gracie Gilpin's sixth three-pointer of the game got ESU within 67-63 with 1:28 left in the quarter but the Lions scored the final four points to lead 71-63 headed into the fourth. A three-pointer from Horyna got Emporia State within 75-68 with 4:57 left but it would be the last score for the Lady Hornets. The Lions ended the game on a 12-0 run for the final score.
Gracie Gilpin led Emporia State with 22 points. She was joined in double figures by
Elizabeth Tjaden who had a career high 16 points and
Katie Horyna who finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Hornets only had one more turnover but surrendered ten more points off turnovers and shot just 35.1% from the field as Northeastern State picked up a 74-57 victory on Thursday in Tahlequah, Okla. The offensive struggles began early as the Lady Hornets made just three of their first ten field goals and trailed the Riverhawks 19-12 through the first frame. Emporia State's shooting percentage dipped further in the second, as they shot four of 16 from the field, and entered halftime trailing 36-24. Following the break, Northeastern State's lead continued to grow as they outscoredEmporia State 21-11 in the frame to take a 57-35 lead into the final period. The fourth quarter proved to be the best offensive frame of the night for the Lady Hornets as they outscored the Riverhawks 22-17.
Gracie Gilpin and
Makenzie McDaniel each had nine points while five more Lady Hornets scored five or more.
UP NEXT
Due to the forecasted winter storm, 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 1:00 p.m.
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