The Emporia State basketball teams split with Central Oklahoma at Hamilton Field House in Edmond, Okla. on Saturday.
In the women’s game, ESU held off UCO for a 65-56 victory. ESU started well and used a 9-1 run early to build a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. A later 11-2 run gave E-State a 37-27 halftime edge. UCO cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth but didn’t lead in the second half. Head coach MJ Baker said the team found a way to make the plays late that they didn’t make in an earlier loss to Rogers State on Thursday.
ESU was led by Kaitlyn Sanders who poured in a career high 29 points and was 13-for-13 from the line. She said she focused on shrugging off her recent struggles to come up big for her team.
Macey Gandee chipped in 13 points with nine rebounds for ESU (11-10, 5-7 MIAA).
In the men’s game, the Hornets battled but never led in a 70-64 loss to the ‘Chos. UCO build an 18-8 lead in the first with an 11-2 run and used a later 10-2 run to eventually lead by 12 at the break, but the Hornets scored 10-straight in the second half to cut the deficit as close as two. Chris Harris missed a three that would have given the Hornets the lead and ESU was never that close again. Head coach Tom Billeter said an off-day at the free throw line cost his team dearly.
The Hornets finished just 13-for-21 at the free throw line while the Bronze & Blue connected on 18 of 23 charity shots. ESU (7-14, 3-9 MIAA), returns home to face Pittsburg State on Thursday. Coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
