Mandy
The Lady Hornets basketball team picked up their first win under new head coach MJ Baker, defeating Southwest Baptist 84-61 in a mid-week matchup.
After a tough opening weekend at the D2 Central Region Showcase, the team bounced back in dominant fashion to get their season on track.
Slow Start Turns Into Offensive Momentum
Playing on the road in Bolivar, Missouri, the Lady Hornets fell behind early as the Bearcats scored the first five points of the game.
Graduate student Kaitlyn Sanders quickly responded with five points of her own to make it a close 7-5 contest. Both teams continued trading baskets, and Southwest Baptist held a 17-13 lead after the first quarter.
Gilpin Takes Over The Second Quarter
The Bearcats briefly extended their lead to 19-13, marking their largest advantage of the game. From there, the momentum shifted decisively. Senior forward Macey Gandee scored on a putback, and then senior guard Grace Gilpin ignited the offense.
In less than three minutes, Gilpin scored 15 of Emporia State’s next 18 points, all from behind the arc.
She ended the quarter with 18 total points, going 6-for-6 from three in the period. The Lady Hornets seized control in the second quarter and never looked back, taking a 44-33 lead into halftime.
Lady Hornets Extend Their Lead In the Second Half
Coming out of the break, Emporia State continued increasing the pressure. Sophomore guard Kaylin Noonan led a 10-0 run, scoring six points and pushing the lead to 59-36.
By the end of the third quarter, the Lady Hornets held a 64-43 advantage.
The fourth quarter opened with a 7-2 run, and two free throws by junior Katiya Casey pushed the lead to 73-44, the team’s largest of the night.
Although the Bearcats answered with a 15-3 surge, the Hornets closed the game on an 8-2 run, sealing the 84-61 victory.
Offensive Leaders And Team Performance
Several standout performances fueled the dominant win:
- Sanders and Gilpin each scored 22 points, leading the offense.
- Gandee recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
- The Lady Hornets forced 41 points off turnovers, showcasing aggressive defensive play.
- Emporia State outrebounded Southwest Baptist 48-30.
- The team shot 40.6% from the field and 34.6% from three, ending the night with efficient execution on both ends.
This was the highest-scoring game against a Division II opponent since the team put up 87 points against Wayne State last season, and the most on the road since scoring 85 at Rogers State in 2022.
Upcoming Matchup
With their first win of the season secured, the MJ Baker-led Lady Hornets head back home to White Auditorium for a matchup against Missouri S&T on November 22, with tip-off scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The team will look to build momentum and continue improving early in the season.
The Lady Hornets showcased resilience and explosive offense, turning a slow start into a decisive win over Southwest Baptist.
With strong performances from key contributors and improved execution on both ends of the court, Emporia State appears poised to carry this momentum into upcoming matchups as the season progresses.