The Emporia State basketball teams were swept by Missouri Western at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo. on Wednesday.
In the women’s game, the Lady Hornets came up just short on a comeback attempt in a 72-67 defeat to the Griffons to split the season series. Western tore up the Lady Hornets early hitting four three’s on the way to a 12-0 run to start the game. They then used a 10-2 run to take a 40-21 halftime edge. Missouri Western led by 23 with just over five minutes to go in the contest when ESU started a 21-4 run to get back into the game. The run was sparked by an Addie Kirmer basket who scored six points off the bench. ESU got as close as three but the Griffs made their charity shots down the stretch to hold off the comeback bid. Head coach MJ Baker said the team started flat in the first half.
Gracie Gilpin scored 22 points on 4 of 9 shooting from outside the arc while Macey Gandee added 16 with nine rebounds. ESU (14-13, 8-10 MIAA) was outscored 38-18 in the paint and never led in the game.
In the men’s game, the Hornets were outscored 44-28 after halftime and fell 92-78 to Western. The Hornets led 50-48 at the half after shooting 69 percent from the field in the first half. The Hornets shot just 30% after halftime and head coach Tom Billeter said it was the difference in the ball game.
Treyvon Taylor led the Hornets with 20 points. ESU (9-18, 5-13 MIAA) wraps up the regular season with Senior Day Saturday hosting Northwest Missouri. Coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
