Lady Hornets Soar into Central Missouri for Exciting Saturday Showdown!

Women’s Basketball | 1/17/2025 10:34:00 AM

GAME 17

Emporia State (7-9, 2-5 MIAA) at Central Missouri (10-8, 2-5 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 • 1:00 p.m. • Warrensburg, Mo. • Hughes Athletics Center
Series Record: ESU leads 44-42 Last Encounter: at ESU 70, UCM 66 (1/2/2025)
Broadcast: Hornet Sports Network KFFX-FM (104.9)/1490AM Topeka/103.7FM Kansas City 
Online Audio: kvoe.com | Television Broadcast: None | Online Video: The MIAA Network
Live Stats | Ticket Information | Full Notes in pdf
Next Game: Northeastern State • Thursday, Jan. 23 • 5:30 PM • Emporia, Kan. • WL White Auditorium

SHOW ME SHOWDOWN

The Lady Hornets face Central Missouri in a crucial matchup for MIAA Tournament positioning for both teams.

LAST TIME OUT

The Lady Hornets were unable to recover from a 14-4 initial quarter surge in an 88-73 defeat to Washburn on Wednesday. Gracie Gilpin scored 12 points in the first quarter, while the other Lady Hornets collectively went zero for 12 from the field in that period. The game remained competitive until a 15-3 run pushed the Ichabods to a 75-56 advantage with 7:10 remaining in the contest.  Gracie Gilpin topped Emporia State with 18 points, including four three-pointers. Katie Horyna and Macey Gandee both contributed ten points, while Janiyah Alvarez led the Lady Hornets in rebounding with seven boards.

 

ABOUT THE COACHES

Brian Ostermann holds a record of 21-25 in his second season as the head coach of the Lady Hornets. This marks his 36th season within collegiate coaching, with a history of accomplishments at all levels of the collegiate landscape.  He brings 15 years of NCAA Division I experience, including nine years at K-State, alongside 20 years at the NCAA D-II and junior college tiers. He achieved a record of 178-107 in nine seasons as a junior college men’s head coach before transitioning to the women’s division. He is 2-1 against Central Missouri.

Dave Slifer boasts a record of 431-187 in his 21st year at UCM and 815-286 over his 35-year coaching career. He holds a 29-41 record historically against Emporia State, with a 19-22 mark at UCM.

UP NEXT

The Lady Hornets will return to White Auditorium on January 23 to face Northeastern State, beginning a four-game homestand. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS

Emporia State stands at 7-10, 2-6 in the MIAA. Katie Horyna ranks fifth in the MIAA for scoring and sixth in assists.  Gracie Gilpin occupies the third position in the league for made three-pointers and sixth for three-point shooting percentage.  As a collective, Emporia State ranks third in the MIAA for three-pointers made, and is fourth in defensive rebounds.

ABOUT THE JENNIES

Central Missouri records a standing of 10-8, 2-5 in the MIAA. Reese Schaaf is leading the MIAA in scoring and rebounds while Taylor Weishaar tops the league in blocked shots. Lauren Frost is third in assists within the MIAA. The Jennies hold a fourth-place ranking in assist-to-turnover ratio and blocked shots yet occupy the last place in the league for three-pointers made.

SERIES HISTORY

The Lady Hornets command the all-time series 44-42 and have achieved victories in the last two matchups. Prior to last year’s win by Emporia State in White Auditorium, the Jennies had prevailed in seven consecutive encounters.

LAST TIME VS CENTRAL MISSOURI

Gracie Gilpin and Katie Horyna combined for 42 points as the Lady Hornets secured a 70-66 victory against Central Missouri. Gilpin drained three consecutive three-pointers to conclude the first quarter, granting ESU a 21-19 lead. The Lady Hornets obtained their maximum advantage of 41-26 with 1:20 remaining in the half. The Jennies initiated the third quarter with the first ten points, closing the gap to 41-39 with 8:00 left, and ultimately tied the game at 44 with 5:25 to go. ESU converted four of five free throws in the closing 2:31. Gilpin recorded 22 points, while Horyna totaled 20 points.

FRESHMEN PHENOMS

For the first time in NCAA history, the Lady Hornets commenced four freshmen in consecutive games, with seven freshmen participating in matches this season. 

Makenzie McDaniel has made nine starts, averaging 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. Her 11 points and 11 rebounds against Northwest Missouri mark the first double-double by a true freshman in MIAA play since Emily Weathers achieved 11 points and ten rebounds against Pittsburg State on January 14, 2021. She is the first Lady Hornet freshman to notch multiple double-doubles within a season since Merissa Quick amassed six double-doubles in 2011-12. Her 15 rebounds against Bellevue are the most by a Lady Hornet, regardless of division or class, since Tyra Jones’ 17 rebounds at Southwest Baptist on February 15, 2018, and the highest by a true freshman since Michelle Stueve’s 16 against McPherson on November 30, 2004. 

Jayla Cornelius has participated in all 16 games, starting four, averaging 8.8 points per game. She is the first Lady Hornet to net at least 20 points and provide at least ten assists in a single game during her true freshman year. Her 23 points at Missouri Western are the highest for a true freshman since Ehlaina Hartman scored 26 against Lincoln on February 13, 2021. Her ten assists are the most by a Lady Hornet freshman following Jamie Blakely’s 12 against Fort Hays State on December 2, 1999. 

Janiyah Alvarez has engaged in 13 games, starting in nine, and is averaging 5.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Her 12 rebounds at Missouri Western are the highest by a Lady Hornet freshman in an MIAA game since Merissa Quick also had 12 rebounds at Pittsburg State on February 15, 2012. 

Elizabeth Tjaden has started in 13 games, averaging 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and has recorded double-digit scoring in four contests. 

Addie Kirmer has participated in nine games, Aaliyah Smith has played in eight, and Kaylin Noonan has seen action in six games.

 

FIRST YEAR TOP 25 WINS

The Lady Hornets’ 71-59 victory over then #25 Pittsburg State made Brian Ostermann the fourth consecutive Lady Hornet coach to earn a Top 25 victory in their inaugural season at Emporia State.  This triumph occurred in Ostermann’s 16th game as head coach, making him the third fastest Lady Hornet coach to achieve a Top 25 win.  Brandon Schneider and Toby Wynn both secured wins in their first games, with Schneider defeating then #12 Neb.-Kearney 89-57 on November 14, 1998, while Wynn earned a 68-60 neutral site win against then #20 Southwestern Oklahoma on November 9, 2018.  Collins captured his first Top 25 victory in his 25th game, a 61-59 overtime triumph at then #15 Washburn on February 23, 2011.

BRING IT ON    

The Lady Hornets hold a record of 89-70 (.560) against WBCA Top 25 teams since the 1997-98 season.  Emporia State“`html

is 35-19 (.648) in neutral site contests against top 25 adversaries since 1997. The Lady Hornets stand at 33-18 (.647) in White Auditorium versus Top 25 squads since 1997. Emporia State boasts 37 victories against Top 10 opponents, which includes four triumphs against #1 ranked teams in the past eight seasons. The Lady Hornets have secured at least one Top 25 victory in each of the last two seasons after a three-year drought without a win over a nationally ranked opponent from December 2019 until January 2024.

HOME COOKIN’

The Lady Hornets have triumphed in 343 of their last 397 (.864) contests held in White Auditorium. Emporia State has suffered only 29 losses to unranked NCAA teams in White Auditorium since 1997. The Lady Hornets possess an overall record of 489-122 (.800) at home since 1979 and maintain the MIAA record for consecutive home victories with 62, established from 1997-2001. Emporia State’s record against top ten rivals in White Auditorium since 1995 stands at 14-10 (.583). They remain undefeated in postseason matchups in White Auditorium, boasting a 15-0 record in MIAA Tournament play and a 6-0 record in NCAA Tournament play.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Lady Hornets have surpassed the 100-point threshold 76 times and have broken the 110-point barrier 30 times throughout their history. Since the 1997-98 season, the Lady Hornets have achieved a 331-5 (.985) record when scoring a minimum of 80 points, following a 167-22 (.884) record in the preceding 23 seasons under similar circumstances. In contrast, Emporia State is 174-2 (.989) all-time when restricting opponents to 50 points or fewer.

HERE THEY COME

The Lady Hornets have attracted at least 1,000 spectators in six home matches this season. Last year, they averaged 923 fans per game, marking the 26th consecutive year (excluding COVID) they have placed in the top 16 nationally in attendance.

Emporia State played in front of an NCAA Division II season-high of 6,455 during the 2020 MIAA Tournament Championship game at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Before the pandemic, the Lady Hornets had drawn crowds of at least 1,000 in White Auditorium in 305 of their last 306 games. The national championship game for the Lady Hornets attracted a standing-room-only audience of 3,405 at the St. Joseph Civic Arena in 2010. The Lady Hornets averaged a school-record 2,684 fans in the 2005-06 season, finishing third nationally, and led the nation with an average attendance of 2,348 fans in 2004-05.

MIAA TOURNEY EXCELLENCE

Emporia State claimed an unprecedented five consecutive MIAA Tournament Championships and an MIAA record of 16 straight tournament victories from 2013-2018. They are the first team to accomplish two distinct streaks of at least four successive tournament championships. The Lady Hornets clinched four straight championships from 1998-2001 and reached seven consecutive title matches between 2011 and 2017, winning the last five tournaments during that span. Emporia State holds a 48-20 all-time record in MIAA Tournament play, including a flawless 15-0 at White Auditorium.

MARCH MADNESS

The Lady Hornets have qualified for 22 NCAA Tournaments since becoming eligible in 1992. They rank eighth historically in NCAA Division II tournament appearances, with their 19 excursions being the most in the 21st century. Emporia State has secured 40 NCAA Tournament victories, placing them sixth all-time and fifth among currently active Division II institutions.

RANKINGS

Two MIAA squads are presently listed in the Top 25 of the WBCA National Poll. Emporia State was rated #25 in the February 9, 2021 poll, signifying the 24th consecutive season the Lady Hornets have appeared in the Top 25 of the WBCA Poll during a season. Overall, the Lady Hornets have been featured in the Coaches Top 25 for 284 weeks since their first appearance in the 1997-98 preseason poll and have maintained a position in the top ten for a WBCA Division II record of 190 weeks.

TAKING ON THE BEST

Throughout their history, the Lady Hornets have registered three victories against teams that were defending national champions at that time. Emporia State triumphed over the 2018 national champion Jennies 65-62 on February 9, 2019; defeated the 2016 national champions Lubbock Christian 60-50 on December 3, 2016, during the inaugural regular season matchup between a #1 ranked team and a defending national champion in White Auditorium history; and halted then #1 ranked and 2005 national champion Washburn’s 51-game winning streak with a 61-59 overtime victory in the regional championship on March 13, 2006, in Topeka.

SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE

The Lady Hornets hold a 20-6 all-time record when playing as the #1 team in the nation. Emporia State first attained a #1 national ranking by the WBCA in 2004-05, again in 2006-07, and after clinching the 2009-10 national championship, they opened the 2015-16 season in that position, maintaining their spot for the first seven games, and they were also ranked first for four games in 2016-17. The Lady Hornets have achieved 20 wins in 22 of the last 25 seasons. Emporia State has participated in the NCAA Tournament 22 times over the past 25 years, with their 40-20 record in the tournament ranking fourth among active Division II schools in total tournament victories. The team has made six Elite Eight appearances, the most by any team since 1997. The Lady Hornets secured their first national championship in 2010, 12 years after their initial appearance in the national title game, and have advanced to four Final Fours since 1998.

The Lady Hornets have earned seven MIAA regular-season championships and nine MIAA Tournament titles. Emporia State has appeared in 15 of the last 25 MIAA Tournament Championship games and reached the semifinals in 22 of the last 26 seasons.

ROAD WARRIORS

The Lady Hornets possess a 315-150 (.677) record away from home, 108-35 (.755) in neutral site competitions, and 65-17 (.793) against non-MIAA opponents at neutral venues since the 1997-98 season, with five of the losses occurring in the Elite Eight. The Lady Hornets have gone on the road to overcome the #1 ranked squad in the nation twice during regional tournaments and have ousted the host team in six different regionals. Emporia State maintains a 52-52 (.500) record away from White Auditorium against Top 25 teams. The Lady Hornets stand at 167-91 (.647) in road games within MIAA league play since 1997-98. Emporia State is 37-17 (.685) in NCAA Tournament matches away from White Auditorium.

ON THE AIR

The Lady Hornets have appeared on national television five times over the past two decades. They own a 3-2 record following their loss in the Final Four on CBS Sports Network in 2015. They triumphed over Ft. Lewis 65-53 in the national championship matchup on ESPN2 in 2010. Emporia State’s 97-94 overtime victory against then #1 Gannon was broadcast on ESPNU. The Lady Hornets’ 74-67 win over Washburn in 2007 aired nationally on CSTV. This marked the first instance of a basketball game being televised nationally from White Auditorium and the first time an MIAA regular season basketball matchup, either men’s or women’s, had been broadcast nationwide. The Lady Hornets’ national championship showdown against North Dakota in 1998 was shown on ESPN. The Turnpike Tussle game against Washburn in White Auditorium on January 15, 2011, was the featured contest on the MIAA Broadcasting Network.

LISTEN & WATCH LIVE

Audio coverage of all Emporia State contests is provided on the Hornet Sports Network throughout Northeast Kansas and stretching into Missouri. The flagship station KFFX 104.9FM teams up with SportsRadio 1490AM in Topeka and 103.7FM in Kansas City, as the Voice of the Hornets, Blake Cripps, delivers the play-by-play action. Audio streaming is also available on kvoe.com and via the Audacy app. KFFX is celebrating its 37th continuous year as the radio home of Hornet Athletics, representing the longest active streak between a commercial station and an MIAA school.

Video webcasts for all of Emporia State’s regular season contests are accessible on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Digital Network. The MIAA Network content is available live, and each event is immediately archived for on-demand viewing afterward. Fans can catch the action at www.themiaanetwork.com and on The MIAA Network apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

The MIAA has forged a partnership with Scripps
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Media and their autonomous television outlet KMCI, catering to the Kansas City metropolitan region on 38 The Spot, will persist with its MIAA TV Game of the Week transmissions for the entire 2025 NCAA Division II basketball season. Kicking off with men’s Turnpike Tussle on January 4 in White Auditorium, 38 The Spot will present NCAA Division II men’s and women’s basketball competitions from nine distinct MIAA campuses throughout January and February. The Lady Hornets will feature in the lineup on February 22 at Newman. The broadcasting timetable will conclude with the live airing of the MIAA men’s and women’s championship matches from the 2025 basketball tournament at Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City on March 9.

LADY HORNETS NCAA LEGACY

The Lady Hornets have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 22 times in the past 26 years, and their 40-20 record in the tournament ranks fourth all-time among active Division II colleges in terms of total tourney victories. Emporia State clinched the 2010 National Championship, were national runners-up in 1998, progressed to the Final Four in 1999 and 2015, and reached the Elite Eight in 2000 and 2006. They have made it to the regional final 14 times.

LADY HORNET PERFORMANCE ON THE COURT…

The Lady Hornets boast the best performance in MIAA competitions in the 21st century. Emporia State stands at 350-140 (.714) in MIAA contests since the 2000 season and maintains a record of 590-204 (.743) overall during that timeframe. Their record improves when considering two additional years. Since the 1997-98 season, Emporia State holds a 413-142 (.744) record in MIAA gameplay and 653-208 (.758) overall. The Lady Hornets have been recognized in the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll 190 times, the highest among any NCAA Division II institution. Emporia State has participated in 22 NCAA Tournaments, reached the Regional Championship or “Sweet 16” 14 times, made six appearances in the Elite Eight, four visits to the Final Four, two national title game appearances, and secured the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship. The Lady Hornets have clinched seven MIAA Regular-season and nine Tournament Titles and are the only team to achieve four consecutive undisputed (untied regular season and tournament) MIAA Championships from 1998-2001. They have participated in 15 of the last 27 MIAA Tournament championship matches, reached the semifinals in 22 of the last 27 MIAA Tournaments, and claimed nine tourney championships.

…AND IN ACADEMICS

The Lady Hornets recorded a combined GPA of 3.63 in the fall. Amaya Blake, Jayla Cornelius, Addie Kirmer, Kaylin Noonan, and Allie Ostermann each achieved 4.00 GPAs during the fall semester. Emporia State topped the 2016-17 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Academic Top 25 rankings. The Lady Hornets posted a record team GPA of 3.744 during the 2016-17 academic year. The Lady Hornets have been acknowledged as Academic All-Americans on four occasions since joining the NCAA. Michelle Stueve was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second-team in 2007-08 and was a three-time Academic All-District VII recipient. Emily Bloss earned the title of Academic All-American three times and was recognized as the Academic All-American of the Year in 2001.

TRIFECTA

Emporia State is the inaugural program in NCAA Division II history to lead the nation in attendance (2005), secure a national championship (2010), and be honored with the highest GPA nationwide (2017) in the WBCA Academic Top 25 rankings. 

LET’S ADD MORE

Aneta Kausaite, Jurgita Kausaite, Tara Holloway-Churchill, Emily Bloss-Carpenter, Michelle Stueve-Corpening, Cassondra Boston, and Alli Volkens have their jerseys retired in White Auditorium for achieving first or second team All-American accolades, completing their degrees, and playing for a minimum of two years at ESU. 

NOT SO MUCH OF A HOME COURT EDGE

The host team for the NCAA Regional in which the Lady Hornets compete has triumphed in the tournament merely four times in the last 17 attempts. The initial eight years of this trend were in the South Central Region. The 2023 season marked just the ninth instance where the host team advanced to the regional final in the past 14 years, with Washburn succumbing to Emporia State in 2006 at Lee Arena, West Texas A&M overcoming Central Oklahoma in 2009 in Canyon, Texas, Ft. Hays State losing to Emporia State in 2014 in Hays, Pittsburg State defeating Emporia State in 2017 in Pittsburg, Central Missouri winning against Augustana in 2018 in Sioux Falls, S.D., Ft. Hays State falling to Southwestern Oklahoma in Hays in 2019, Central Missouri defeating Neb.-Kearney in 2021, Fort Hays State narrowly losing 70-69 to Missouri Western in 2022, and Minnesota State overpowering Southern Nazarene 80-48 last season. The Lady Hornets have eliminated the host institution six times since 2004.

RESILIENT ENOUGH

The NCAA Central Region comprises teams from the MIAA, Northern Sun, and Great American Conferences. Currently, two MIAA teams are ranked in this week’s 2025 WBCA Top 25, alongside three NSIC teams ranking and one GAC team receiving votes.

Thus far this season, the MIAA holds a record of 29-22 against the rest of the region.  The MIAA leads the NSIC 15-9 and has recorded 14-13 against the GAC. The MIAA stands at 85-48 (.639) overall against external competitors this season while the GAC is at 42-25 (.627) and the NSIC is at 46-37 (.554).

Last season, the MIAA recorded a 23-19 record against the remainder of the region, going 14-6 against the NSIC and 9-12 against the GAC. Overall, the MIAA completed the season at 63-26 against outside competition.

INJURY/ROSTER UPDATE

The Lady Hornets are missing three players for the remainder of the season due to injuries.  Tylieea Wallace is sidelined for the season following knee surgery before the season commenced.  Kenadi Rising will be out for the remainder of the season subsequent to surgery after sustaining a lower leg injury earlier in the season. Amaya Blake will also miss the rest of the season due to a foot injury incurred earlier in the season.   

FACTS & FIGURES

• The Lady Hornets have secured 20 victories 22 times throughout the last 26 years and 27 times in their school history.

• The Lady Hornets have achieved 25 victories 13 times in their history.

• The Lady Hornets have reached 30 victories four times in the history of the program.

• The Lady Hornets hold an overall record of 1,015-469 (.684) in their 51st year of competition, being the eighth NCAA Division II program to reach 1,000 victories.

• The Lady Hornets are the sole team to feature in the NCAA top twenty season records for scoring offense (17th – 90.0 in 1998; 8th – 91.3 in 1999; 18th – 89.9 in 2000) and scoring defense (20th – 50.6 in 2001).

• The Lady Hornets have claimed 11 of the last 23 MIAA MVP honors, seven of the last 20 Freshmen of the Year accolades, and have taken home four MIAA Defensive Player of the Year awards since the 2011-12 season.

STREAKS AND MILESTONES

• The Lady Hornets maintained a 62-game home winning streak from Feb. 27, 1997, through Jan. 13, 2001, establishing an MIAA record and the fifth longest in NCAA Division II history.

• The Lady Hornets concluded the previous longest winning streak in NCAA Division II history (51 games) with their 61-59 overtime triumph over Washburn on March 13, 2006, in the South Central Regional final, and ended the longest single-season winning streak (37 games) with their 97-94 overtime victory over Gannon on March 24, 2010, in the national semifinals.

• The Lady Hornets have bested the host team in their regional six times over the past 17 years (at Ft. Hays State 66-61 in 2015; at Washburn 65-58 in 2013; at Washburn 71-65 in 2012; at West Texas A&M 76-69 in 2010; at Washburn in 2006; and at Drury in 2005).

• Emporia State holds a 2-1 record against teams on a 30-game winning streak in the NCAA Tournament. They halted Gannon’s 37-game winning streak in the 2010 national semifinals and ended Washburn’s 32-game in-season streak in the 2006 South Central Regional finals. ESU was defeated by eventual national runner-up Southwestern Oklahoma 71-65 in the first round of the 2019 Central Regional.

• The Lady Hornets have made 28 consecutive appearances in the MIAA Tournament.

• The Lady Hornets have had at least one player receive Third-Team All-MIAA or higher recognition for 22 straight seasons, the longest current streak in the MIAA.

FINAL NOTES

The Lady Hornets are 620-25 (.961) since 1997 when ahead at the 5:00 mark.