In the resumption to the basketball season, Central Missouri swept Emporia State on New Year’s Day at the Hughes Athletic Center in Warrensburg, Mo.
In the women’s game, the Lady Hornets used an 11-0 run to come back in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get any closer than five in a 70-61 loss to the Jennies. The game was tight early but UCM ended the first quarter on an 8-1 run to lead 18-13 and took a 13-point lead in the second after a 12-2 run. The Lady Hornets trailed 36-27 at the break before making the run back in the fourth. ESU was outscored 23-12 at the free throw line in the game while hitting seven three’s to Central’s three. But the difference was in the paint where UCM finished 15-for-18 on layups while the Lady Hornets were just 11 of 26. Head coach MJ Baker said the team has to get better.
Kaitlyn Sanders led the Lady Hornets with 26 points to match her career high, but she was outdueled by UCM’s Reese Schaaf who finished with a season-high 29 points to go along with 11 rebounds. ESU (7-5, 1-2 MIAA) didn’t lead after the first quarter.
In the men’s game the Hornet offense sputtered late as the Mules completed the sweep with a 78-71 win over the Hornets. UCM put themselves in front with a 10-2 run late in the first half, but the Hornets ripped off a 13-2 run over the last five minutes to lead 40-36 at the break. ESU used a 10-2 run to lead by seven midway through the second period, but the offense went cold after that as ESU missed 10 of 11 shots at one point as a 10-0 run put UCM on top with just over eight minutes to go. A later 10-0 run put Central in front 73-64 with just over three minutes to play. UCM missed free throws down the stretch but ESU couldn’t take advantage. Head coach Tom Billeter said the team didn’t take advantage of its opportunities with 11 missed layups in the game.
Jack Weigus led the Hornets with 15 points. Mason Wujek had 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for a double-double. ESU (4-8, 0-3 MIAA) fell to 0-5 on the road. E-State returns to action facing Washburn on the road Saturday. Pregame coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
