Women's Basketball | 3/2/2026 4:16:00 PM

GAME 29
Emporia State (14-14, 8-11 MIAA) vs. Northeastern State (17-11, 9-10 MIAA)
MIAA Tournament First Round
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 • 12:00 p.m. • Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium
Series Record: ESU leads 25-9 Last Meeting: at NSU 74, ESU 57 (1/22/26)
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM
Internet Audio: kvoe.com | Television: None | Internet Video: The MIAA Network
Live Stats | Ticket Info | Complete Notes in pdf
Parking Tips | Alternate Parking Map
Up Next: Winner vs UCM • March 5• 12:00 p.m. • Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium

MIAA MADNESS   
The Lady Hornets play Northeastern State in the MIAA Tournament First Round. Emporia State is making their 30th straight and 31st MIAA Tourney overall while the RiverHawks are playing in their ninth tourney and first since 2024

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State is 14-14, 8-11 in the MIAA.  They are third in the MIAA in offensive rebounds. Gracie Gilpin is third in the MIAA in total three-pointers made and averages 13.3 points per game. 

ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 17-11, 9-10 in the MIAA and had lost eight straight prior to their win over UCO. The RiverHawks are second in the nation in free throw percentage. McKenzie Smith is their leading scorer but did not play in their final game.

ABOUT THE COACHES
MJ Baker is 14-14 in her first season with the Lady Hornets and is 65-60 in her fourth year as a head coach at a four year institution. She has won 348 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 0-1 against Northeastern State.
Keith Ferguson is 42-43 in his third season at NSU and 163-130 in his 11th year overall. He is 3-2 against ESU at Northeastern State and 3-3 overall.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia Sate leads the all-time series 24-9 and have won 18 of the last 22 meetings. The Lady Hornets are 2-0 against the RiverHawks in the MIAA Tournament.

LAST TIME VS NORTHEASTERN STATE
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 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.

LAST TIME VS. THE RIVERHAWKS IN THE MIAA TOURNAMENT
The Lady Hornets scored the first 13 points and never looked back in a 72-58 win over Northeastern State in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. Emporia State went up 13-0 with 6:42 left in the quarter.  The RiverHawks answered with an 11-0 run of their own to get within two points with 4:06 left but The Lady Hornets answered with another 6-0 run and took a 19-14 lead after one quarter. Stevie Stinchcomb and Katie Horyna hit back to back three-pointers followed by a Paramore layup to give ESU a 31-21 lead with 5:44 remaining in the half and took a 39-29 lead to the locker room. Emporia State scored the first eight points to take a 47-29 lead with 8:32 left.  The lead would not drop below 14 points the rest of the game. Katie Horyna scored a career-high 25 points with seven assists and five rebounds. Faith Paramore added 21 points and ten rebounds

LAST TIME OUT
In a game that saw 12 ties and 11 lead changes Northwest Missouri  scored the final two points on a pair of free throws with 1:21 left for a 71-70 win over the Lady Hornets in White Auditorium.
The first quarter saw neither team have more than a one possession lead and the score was tied at 16 after the first ten minutes. After the Bearcats went up 26-22 with 6:41 left in the half, the Lady Hornets responded with a 7-0 run to take a 29-26 lead with 5:00 left. Emporia State held the lead the remainder of the period and took a 39-34 lead into the break. Northwest Missouri used a 14-4 run over the first six minutes of the second half to take a 48-43 lead. Emporia State answered with a 13-3 run of their own to end the period and take a 56-51 lead into the fourth. A Brooklyn Stanley three-pointer put the Bearcats ahead 64-61 with 5:08 left but Vanessa Coleman answered for the Lady Hornets less than a minute later with a three of her own to tie the game at 64. Stanley would hit another three with 2:26 left to put Northwest up 69-64. Kaitlyn Sanders then scored six straight points on an old fashioned three-point play followed by a three-pointer with 1:34 left to give Emporia State a 70-69 lead.  On the ensuing possession ESU was called for a foul and Bailey Birmingham converted both free throws to put NWMSU up 71-70. The Lady Hornets were called for an offensive foul on their next possession with 53 seconds left but were able to force a shot clock violation on the Bearcats with 22.2 seconds left. Gracie Gilpin had a shot with under two seconds left but Sadie Maas got the block to end the game.
Kaitlyn Sanders led four Lady Hornets in double figures with 22 points.  Vanessa Coleman scored 12 while Macey Gandee and Lexsey DeWitt each scored 11 points.

GOING TO KANSAS CITY, AGAIN
The Lady Hornets have clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament for the 30th consecutive year and 31st time in 36 years as members of the Association.  Emporia State is 48-21 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and their .696 winning percentage is tops in the MIAA.  They have a 32-17 (.653) record in Municipal Auditorium.  The Lady Hornets nine tournament championships are tied with Washburn for the most in Association history. 

UP NEXT
The winner will take on top seeded Central Missouri at noon on Thursday, March 5 in Kansas City, Mo.

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