Emporia State was swept by Northwest Missouri on Senior Day to wrap up the regular season at White Auditorium in Emporia, Kan.
In the women’s game, Northwest survived a battle to spoil ESU’s Senior Day 71-70. Neither team led by more than five points in the game. ESU used a 6-0 run to take a slim 39-34 lead into halftime. Northwest went in front 49-43 on a 9-0 run as the Lady Hornets missed 7 of 8 shots, but the Big Gold responded with a 13-3 run to lead 56-51 at the end of the third. The Big Green replied with a 10-2 run run to lead by three with four minutes left in the game. Bearcat forward Sadie Maas blocked a shot following a Gracie Gilpin drive just before the buzzer to secure the win.
Kaitlyn Sanders led all scorers on her Senior Day with 22 points. Senior Macey Gandee added 11 while Gilpin scored five. ESU (14-14, 8-11 MIAA) was outscored 17-6 in points off turnovers. Lexsey DeWitt scored a career-high 11 points on three 3-pointers and head coach MJ Baker was impressed by her performance.
The Northwest men went on a 17-2 first half run and the Hornets never recovered falling 81-56 to the Bearcats. The run came in the middle of the frame that put Northwest up 27-11 with nine minutes to go in the half. The ‘Cats led 47-26 at the half and E-State couldn’t reel them in in the second. Head coach Tom Billeter said the team just couldn’t hit shots to keep pace in the first half.
Treyvon Taylor did not play for the Hornets with an ankle injury. Jack Weigus led the Hornets with 15 points. ESU wraps up the year 9-19, 5-14 MIAA.
The Lady Hornets are the No. 9 seed in the MIAA tournament and will play Northeastern State in the first round Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for noon on Mix 104.9.
