Women's Basketball | 1/30/2026 10:36:00 AM

GAME 21
Emporia State (10-10, 4-7 MIAA) at CENTRAL OKLAHOMA (8-12, 3-8 MIAA)
Saturday, January 31, 2026 • 1:30 p.m. • Edmond, Okla. • Hamilton Fieldhouse
Series Record: ESU leads 28-13 Last Meeting: at ESU 60, UCO 58 (2/2/25)
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: vs. #11 Pittsburg State • February 5 • 5:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium

END OF THE ROAD   
The Lady Hornets wrap up their four game road swing with a game at Central Oklahoma.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 10-10, 4-7 in the MIAA.  They are fourth in the MIAA in assists. Gracie Gilpin is second in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game and averages 12.8 points per game. Kaitlyn Sanders is sixth in the MIAA at 15.2 points per game.  

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 8-12, 3-8 in the MIAA. They are second in the MIAA in field goal percentage defense and offensive rebounds. Nykaiya Dillard averages 12.6 points per game while Jerney Bennett is leading the nation with 81 blocked shots.

ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 10-10 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 61-56 in her fourth year as a head coach at a four year institution. She has won 344 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 Central Oklahoma.
Hannah Moeller is 8-12 in her first season at Central Oklahoma and 315-115 in her 14th season overall. This is her first meeting with Emporia State.

SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Hornets lead the overall series 27-13. Emporia State has won the last two games after a five game Broncho winning streak in the series. 

LAST TIME VS CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
The Lady Hornets outscored Central Oklahoma by eight points in the fourth quarter on the way to a 60-58 win at White Auditorium. 
Emporia State trailed the Bronchos 15-5 with 2:45 left in the first quarter. The Lady Hornets responded with a 12-0 run to take a 17-15 lead with 8:09 left in the second quarter.  The Bronchos would answer with an 11-0 run of their own to take a 32-27 lead into the locker rooms. Elizabeth Tjaden scored inside to put the Lady Hornets up 55-54 with 1:51 left in the game, their first lead since the second quarter. Katie Horyna was fouled with 1:19 left and hit both free throws to put Emporia State up 57-56.  On the ensuing possession Gracie Gilpin knocked down a three-pointer with 48.9 seconds left to give the Lady Hornets a two possession lead at 60-56.  Out of a UCO timeout Pogi scored to get the Bronchos within 60-58 with 40.4 seconds remaining.  UCO's Korie Allensworth three-pointer was off and time expired as the Lady Hornets picked up their second straight win.
Katie Horyna scored 17 points with seven rebounds and five assists. She was joined in double figures by Jayla Cornelius with 13 and Gracie Gilpin and Elizabeth Tjaden with 11 points each.  Janiyah Alvarez had a team high eight rebounds.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Hornets started out hot but a 13-0 Hillcat run to end the third quarter would give Rogers State the momentum for a 70-57 win on Thursday night in Claremore, Okla.
The Lady Hornets used a 9-0 run to take a 13-2 lead to start the game and would lead by as many as 14 points in the opening period.  A three-pointer with two seconds left put the Hillcats into double figures as ESU lead 21-10 after one. Emporia State would go on a 4:15 scoring drought in the second period but Rogers State could only get within eight points at 29-21 with 3:31 left in the half. The Lady Hornets pushed the lead back to 14 at 35-21 with 1:44 left in the period. The Hillcats ended the half on a 9-1 run over the final 1:27 as ESU took a 37-26 lead to the break. The Lady Hornets led 48-39 when Vanessa Coleman hit the second of two free throws with 2:44 left in the third.  The Hillcats would score the final 13 points of the period and the first four of the fourth to take a 56-48 lead with 8:02 remaining. Micah Hanna would finally stop the run with a put back at the 7:33 mark but an old fashioned three-point play by Samantha Shanks put the Hillcats back in front 59-50 with 7:12 left.  Emporia State would not get closer than seven points the rest of the game.
Mace Gandee led Emporia State with 15 points and ten rebounds for her second double-double of the season.  She was joined in double figures by Gracie Gilpin with 11 points.
The Lady Hornets outrebounded the Hillcats 45-31 but had 19 turnovers that led to 23 RSU points.

UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets return to White Auditorium on February 5 as they play host to #11 Pittsburg State. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. with the ESU AD Honor Roll recognized at half-time.

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