Women's Basketball | 11/11/2026 12:00:00 PM

GAME 1
Emporia State (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) at OUACHITA BAPTIST (0-0, 0-0 GAC)
Friday, November 12, 2026 • 6:00 p.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Bill Vining Arena
Series Record: ESU leads 1-0 Last Meeting: ESU 90, OBU 85 (11/16/2001-Pensacola, FL)
GAME 2
Emporia State (0-0, 0-0 MIAA) vs. HENDERSON STATE (0-0, 0-0 GAC)
Saturday, November 13, 2026 • 12:00 p.m. • Arkadelphia, Ark. • Bill Vining Arena
Series Record: ESU leads 6-1 Last Meeting: HSU 80, at ESU 67 (11/10/2023)
Radio: None 
Internet Audio: None | Television: None | Internet Video: Ouachita Sports Digital Network
Live Stats | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Angelo State • November 17 • 12:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium

LET'S GET IT STARTED   
The Lady Hornets will open their 53rd season of intercollegiate competition at the MIAA-GAC Challenge at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark. Emporia State is 40-12 all-time in season openers.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State went 15-15, 8-11 in the MIAA last year which included a top 25 win and a first round MIAA Tournament victory. The Lady Hornets brought in eight new players, two freshmen and six transfers, to mesh with six returners.  Vanessa Coleman is the leading returning scorer for ESU at 7.5 points per game while Kaylin Noonan is the top returning rebounder at 5.1 boards per game. The Lady Hornets were ranked ninth in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and tenth by the coaches.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Ouachita Baptist was 14-13 last year with an 11-11 record in the GAC. They are 0-1 this season after falling 70-69 at Mississippi Christian on Monday night. Kayden Porter was their leading scorer with 20 points against the Choctaws. The Tigers were picked 11th in the GAC Preseason Poll.

ABOUT THE REDDIES
Henderson State was 17-10, 13-9 in the GAC last season. First-Team All-GAC performer Natalie Cardenas leads three returning starters at 18.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last year. The Reddies were slated for fifth in the GAC Preseason Poll. 

ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 15-15 in her second season with the Lady Hornets and is 66-61 in her fifth year as a head coach at a four year institution. She has won 349 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 both Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State.
Nick Long is 14-14 in his second year at Ouachita Baptist. This is his first meeting with Emporia State.
Karla Nelson is 193-166 in her 14th year at Henderson State and 258-214 overall in her 18th year as a collegiate coach. She is 1-4 against Emporia State.

SERIES HISTORIES
The Lady Hornets won the only previous meeting with Ouachita Baptist on November 16, 2001 in Pensacola, Fla.
Emporia State leads the all-time series with Henderson State 6-1, having won the first six meetings.

LAST TIME VS OUACHITA BAPTIST
The Lady Hornets opened the 2001-02 season with a 90-85 victory over Ouachita Baptist in double overtime.  Stephanie Riles led Emporia State with 32 points, including an 18 of 21 performance at the free throw line, and eight rebounds.  Crystal Allen scored with under ten seconds remaining at the end of regulation and the first overtime to keep OBU alive.  Jamie Blakely scored on back to back possessions early in the second overtime to give ESU the lead for good. Riles 32 points are the most ever by a Lady Horent freshman in her first game. 

LAST TIME VS HENDERSON STATE
Henderson State scored 51 second half points to overcome a halftime deficit on the way to an 80-67 season opening victory against Emporia State on November 10, 2023.  The Lady Hornets led 32-26 with ten seconds left in the first half before the Reddies hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the lead in half. ESU scored seven of the first nine points of the third quarter to take their biggest lead at 39-31 with 7:44 left in the period.  HSU ended the quarter on a 22-11 run and scored the first eight points of the fourth to go up 61-50 with 8:21 left. Queen Ulabo led Emporia State with 15 points and nine rebounds while Katie Horyna added ten points and seven rebounds.  

UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets will make their White Auditorium debut on Tuesday, November 17 against Angelo State. Tip-off for Education Day is set for 12:00 p.m.

Complete Notes available here

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