The Emporia State basketball teams both fell in nonconference action on Tuesday night.
The Lady Hornets shot just 28% from the field in a 74-59 loss to Newman at White Auditorium in Emporia. ESU trailed 36-22 at the half and never led in the game. Katie Horyna led the Lady Hornets with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting, but the rest of the team was just 12 of 57 from the field. The Jets blistered the nets connecting at a 45% rate in the game and outscored ESU 40-24 in the paint. It is NU’s second-ever win at White Auditorium over E-State after knocking off the Lady Hornets (2-2) for the first time on the road last year.
The Emporia State men had a six-minute scoreless drought in the second half and never led in an 89-74 defeat to William Jewell at the Mabee Center in Liberty, Mo. Jewell started the game on a 9-2 run and shot over 65% from the field in the first 11 minutes, but ESU closed the deficit to four before a 9-0 swing put the Cardinals up 47-38 at the half. ESU trimmed the lead to 48-45 early in the second on a 7-0 run, but the Cards responded with a 16-3 run including the last 11 of the run in a row and ESU never threatened again. Jewell finished 54% from the field and was 15 of 30 from outside the arc. ESU was led by Malik Edwards Jr. who scored a career-high 21 points while Karyiek Dixon added a personal best 10 points. Head coach Tom Billeter said the team has to get better defensively.
ESU (1-3) travels west to Colorado for two games beginning Friday. The Lady Hornets are back at home Friday to face East Central. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. with pregame coverage at 6:30 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network and Mix 104.9.
