The Emporia State basketball teams split with Missouri Western at White Auditorium in Emporia on Saturday.
In the women’s game, ESU used a big second-quarter surge to build a lead and held off the Griffons late in a 69-59 victory. ESU trailed through much of the first, but ESU found their offense late and rode the momentum to a 34-8 run that spanned over 14 minutes of game time and included a five-minute drought for the Griffs. Western used an 11-2 second half run to get within two scores but couldn’t get closer. Head coach MJ Baker picked up her first MIAA win and gave credit to the team’s defense for the win.
Macey Gandee led the way offensively with a career-high 20 points with five rebounds and a personal-best five steals. Kaylin Noonan led the way with career-high totals of 10 rebounds and four assists. She says she enjoys making hustle plays.
ESU (4-4, 1-1 MIAA) returns to action Sunday, December 14 hosting former MIAA rival Lincoln. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. with pregame coverage at 1:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
The Hornet men started slow and couldn’t hang on to a second half comeback in an 84-74 loss to Western. ESU scored the first basket but then allowed a personal 9-0 run to Noah King of the Griffons and eventually trailed by as many as 19 in the first half. They cut into the deficit to trail by 12 at the break. ESU used a 14-3 run to get close and then a later 10-0 run to take a five-point lead, but couldn’t hold it as the Griffons ended the game scoring 12 of the contest’s final 14 points. Head coach Tom Billeter says the team has to figure out a way to get a win.
Treyvon Taylor led the Hornets with 16 points and nine rebounds. ESU was outscored 19-4 in points off turnovers. Western finished 31-for-40 at the foul line while the Hornets were 13 of 14. ESU (2-6, 0-2 MIAA) return to action Monday, December 15 facing Kansas Christian College. Tip-off is set for noon with pregame at 11:30 a.m. on Mix 104.9. Listen online at KVOE.com/listen.
