In the women’s game, #7 Fort Hays State used a 17-3 fourth-quarter run to turn aside the Lady Hornets 69-56. The Tigers started the game on a 13-4 run, but ESU answered with 11 of the next 13 and the teams played close through the rest of the first half en route to a 30-30 halftime tie. The game was called tighter in the second half and the frustration boiled over as head coach MJ Baker picked up her first career technical on the ESU bench and Talexa Weeter hit both free throws as part of a 9-0 Tiger run. ESU closed to within four with eight minutes to play but couldn’t hold off the Tigers at the end. Baker said the team made some mistakes down the stretch that cost them.
Makenzie McDaniel and Kaitlyn Sanders each scored 14 points to lead E-State. Gracie Gilpin added 13 while Kaylin Noonan grabbed 10 rebounds. Weeter finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers while Brooke Loewe notched her first career triple-double. Several Lady Hornets played through illness in the game as ESU suited up just 11 players. ESU (12-12, 6-9 MIAA) was outscored 19-5 in points off turnovers.
In the men’s game, the Hornets led for the entire first half but couldn’t overcome 13 turnovers in a 62-56 loss to the Tigers. Hays committed just four giveaways and outscored ESU (8-16, 4-11 MIAA) 18-6 in points off turnovers. ESU scored seven in a row to start the game and led 24-22 at halftime, but the Tigers stormed in front with a 10-3 run out of halftime and never trailed again. ESU finished the game just 35% from the field and head coach Tom Billeter said he felt ESU took great shots despite their shooting percentage.
Trey Redd paced the Hornets with 12 points while Mason Jones added 11 off the bench. Chris Harris finished with 7 and grabbed 10 rebounds but left the game with an injury in the second half. The Hornets stay on the road and head to Kearney, Neb. to face the Lopers Saturday. Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
