Women's Basketball | 1/7/2026 11:17:00 AM
GAME 14
Emporia State (7-6, 1-3 MIAA) vs. #6 Fort Hays State (13-1, 4-1 MIAA)
Thursday, January 8, 2026 • 5:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
Series Record: ESU leads 52-41
Last Meeting: FHSU 70, at ESU 52 (2/13/25)
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: Neb.-Kearney • January 10 • 3:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium
TOP TEN CHALLENGE
The Lady Hornets play host to #7 Fort Hays State. Emporia State is 14-10 against Top 10 teams in White Auditorium.
ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 7-6 on the season, 1-3 in the MIAA.
Kaitlyn Sanders is the second leading scorer in the MIAA at 17.8 points per game. She is joined in double figures by
Gracie Gilpin at 12.6 points.
Macey Gandee adds 6.2 rebounds and
Kaylin Noonan 6.1 boards per game.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 13-1, 4-1 in the MIAA and #6 in the nation. The Tigers are second in the nation in assist to turnover ratio and second in assists. Talexa Weeter is the leading scorer in the nation while Brooke Lowe leads the nation in assists.
ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 7-6 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 58-52 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 Fort Hays State.
Talia Kahrs is 66-14 in her third season at Fort Hays State. She is 3-0 against Emporia State.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Hornets lead the series 52-41. The home team has won 18 of the last 25 meetings with the Tigers holding a 4-3 edge as visitors in that time.
LAST TIME VS FORT HAYS STATE
The Lady Hornets fell 70-52 to #7 Fort Hays State in White Auditorium.
Emporia State scored the first two points on a
Makenzie McDaniel layup to open the game but the Tigers answered with a 9-0 run to take the lead for good. FHSU led 17-7 with 3:55 left but the Lady Hornets ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to trail 17-14 after one.
Gracie Gilpin hit a three-pointer to get within 19-17 with 7:24 left. Fort Hays State would score the final nine points of the half to give the Tigers a 32-20 lead at the break. ESU would hold the Tigers scoreless for the first 3:26 of the third period until Olivia Hollenbeck scored seven straight to put FHSU up 39-27 with 5:43 left in the quarter. The Tigers closed the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 54-38 lead into the final period. FHSU took their biggest lead at 68-45 with 2:59 remaining before the Lady Hornets closed the game on a 7-2 run thanks to five points from
Addie Kirmer around a layup by
Emma Mitchell.
Elizabeth Tjaden finished with 11 points for Emporia State while
Katie Horyna had eight points and nine rebounds.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Hornets fell 86-59 at Washburn on Saturday afternoon.
The Ichabods jumped out to a 16-2 lead before Lady Hornets first field goal came at the 3:12 mark of the first frame. Emporia State trailed 23-6 heading into the second. The hosts took a 49-26 lead into the halftime break, shooting 11 of 17 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes. Following the break, the Lady Hornets put together their highest scoring quarter of the afternoon, scoring 23 points, but were unable to make up any ground as the Ichabods shot 75% from the floor and scored 24 of their own to lead the Lady Hornets 73-49 entering the final frame. Emporia State shot just 16-54 from the floor and 7-21 from three, while Washburn shot north of 50% and 12-20 from three, which included 11 makes in the first half.
Gracie Gilpin and
Kaitlyn Sanders led the Lady Hornets with 13 and 12 points respectively.
UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets play host to Neb.-Kearney on Saturday. Tip-off from White Auditorium is at 3:30 p.m. following the men's televised game.
