Women's Basketball | 2/13/2026 10:40:00 AM

GAME 25
Emporia State (12-12, 6-9 MIAA) at Neb.-Kearney (13-13, 6-9 MIAA)
Saturday, February 14, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • Kearney, Neb. • Health & Sports Center
Series Record: ESU leads 36-19 Last Meeting: at ESU 82, UNK 78 (1/10/26)
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: Newman • February 21 • 1:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium

WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE   
The Lady Hornets take on Neb.-Kearney on Valentine's Day in Kearney, Neb.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 12-12, 6-9 in the MIAA.  They are fourth in the MIAA in assists. Gracie Gilpin leads the MIAA in three-pointers made and averages 12.7 points per game. Kaitlyn Sanders is fourth in the MIAA at 15.8 points per game.  

ABOUT THE LOPERS
Neb.-Kearney is 13-13 overall and 6-9 in the MIAA. They are second in the MIAA in steals. Myleigh Weers, who did not play in the first meeting, is their leading scorer at 15.3 points per game.

ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 12-12 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 63-58 in her fourth year as a head coach at a four year institution. She has won 346 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.  She is 1-0 against Neb.-Kearney.
Drew Johnson is 52-33 in his third year at UNK and 129-129 overall in his ninth year as a head coach. He is 3-1 against ESU as the Lopers head coach, 4-5 all-time  after going 1-3 with Newman.

SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Hornets lead the overall series 36-19 but the Lopers had won six straight before ESU's win earlier this season. 

LAST TIME VS NEB.-KEARNEY
The Lady Hornets completed a double-digit fourth quarter comeback to take down visiting Nebraska-Kearney 82-78 in White Auditorium.
Nebraska-Kearney led by as much as ten in the opening quarter, but the Lady Hornets closed the gap to 24-18 heading into the second frame. Emporia State entered halftime trailing 47-37. The Lopers used a 9-0 run to go up 60-47 with 4:09 left in the third. Emporia State held UNK scoreless the rest of the quarter to get within 60-55  headed to the fourth. Neb.-Kearney scored the first seven points of the quarter for a 67-55 lead. Emporia State then went on a 13-2 run to cut the Loper lead to 69-68 with 4:18 remaining. With 1:59 remaining Vanessa Coleman gave Emporia State their first lead since the opening basket of the game at 76-75. Micah Hannah converted a contested jumper as the shot clock expired cap an 8-1 run and give ESU a two possession lead with 17 seconds left. Macey Gandee sealed the win with two free throws with 5.7 remaining for the 82-78 victory.
Kaitlyn Sanders had 19 points off the bench to lead four Lady Hornets in double figures. Coleman had 15 points, Gandee scored 14, and Hannah had ten points for ESU.

LAST TIME OUT
With three players out for injuries and illness, he Lady Hornets played tough on the road against #7 Fort Hays State on Thursday night, but ultimately fell 69-56 against the Tigers.
Fort Hays State opened the game with a 13-4 lead at the first media timeout. Emporia State answered with 13-3 run of their own to take a 17-16 lead with 1:07 left on a Makenzie McDaniel jumper. The Tigers would get the final score of the period to take an 18-17 lead into the second quarter. Addie Kirmer drove for a layup to give ESU a 30-27 lead with 1:53 left in the half before Talexa Weeter hit a three with 1:30 left and the teams went to the locker rooms tied at 30-30. The team went back and forth for much of the third with Vanessa Coleman giving the Lady Hornets a 43-41 lead with 1:32 left.  The Tigers closed the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 50-43 lead into the final period. A pair of free throws from Gracie Gilpin got Emporia State within one at 54-53 with 6:04 left.  FHSU scored the next 11 points to take a 65-53 lead with 3:20 left and cruised to the 69-56 victory.
Makenzie McDaniel and Kaitlyn Sanders each had 14 points to lead the Lady Hornets while Gracie Gilpin scored 13 points. Kaylin Noonan grabbed ten rebounds and Vanessa Coleman tied her career high with seven assists.

UP NEXT
The Lady Hornets return to Emporia on Saturday to take on Newman.  Tip-off in White Auditorium is set for 1:30 p.m.

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