The Emporia State basketball teams were swept by Washburn at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan. on Wednesday. The teams played just 11 days after their previous matchup.
The #1 Ichabods improved to 16-0 on the year by holding off the Hornets 83-72. Washburn used a 9-1 run to lead 19-11 in the first half but the Hornets answered with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to three. Washburn led by six with six and a half minutes to play ahead of halftime before scoring 14 of the game’s next 16 points to lead by as many as 18 before settling for a 15-point halftime lead. The Hornets trailed by as many as 21 in the second half but battled using a late 15-4 run to cut the deficit to 10 with just under three minutes to go, but couldn’t get any closer. Head coach Tom Billeter said that ESU’s effort was good enough to get wins in the MIAA.
Arhman Lewis led three Hornets in double figures with 19 points. ESU (4-12, 1-6 MIAA) shot 54% from the field after halftime.
In the women’s game, Washburn took an early lead with a 13-2 first quarter run and never trailed again in an 88-73 victory over the Lady Hornets. Down 10 in the second quarter, ESU scored nine in a row only to see Washburn go on a 7-0 run to end the half up 41-33. Washburn maintained a 13-point lead at the end of the quarter before blowing the game open in the fourth and leading by as many as 20. After handcuffing Washburn center Yiibari Nwidadah in the first matchup of the season, the Lady Hornets struggled to contain her in Topeka as she scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. ESU head coach Brian Ostermann said foul trouble was an issue.
Gracie Gilpin led E-State with 18 points shooting 4 of 8 from outside the arc. ESU (7-9, 2-5 MIAA) started slow, finishing just 4-for-19 in the first quarter. Emporia State returns to the road Saturday to face Central Missouri. The doubleheader tips at 1:00 p.m. with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
