Complete Game Notes
Game #10: Emporia State (5-5) at Lincoln (1-8)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Tickets: https://www.lubluetigers.com/tickets
Live Video: https://www.glvcsn.com/lincolnbluetigers/
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
 
THE TIP OFF:  The Lincoln women's basketball teams closes the 2024 portion of its 2024-25 schedule this week by playing a former conference rival in Jason Gym. On Saturday (Dec. 21), Lincoln squares off against Emporia State at 1:30 p.m. CST in the Blue Tigers' final non-GLVC game of the season. This will be the fourth contest for the Blue Tigers against a team that's currently in the MIAA, the league that Lincoln played in until moving to the GLVC this past July; LU has also played non-conference games against Washburn, Missouri Western and Central Missouri, though all of those were on the road. Lincoln fell in its last game in Jason Gym, as a big second half helped Principia to win, 58-46, last Saturday (Dec. 14). Emporia State enters the weekend 5-5 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play, and fell to Missouri S&T, 85-67, in its only other game against a GLVC team this season.
 
FAST BREAKS
- The Blue Tigers and the Lady Hornets meet for the 40th time on Saturday, with Emporia State leading the all-time series, 34-4.
 
- Lincoln swept Emporia State in 2022-23, but the Lady Hornets returned the favor in 2023-24, winning both of the games between the two programs.
 
- Emporia State won a close game against Lincoln in the last meeting played in Jason Gym, as the Lady Hornets claimed a 68-62 victory on Jan. 11, 2024.
 
PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Hanne Nybo leads the Blue Tigers in both scoring (11.7 ppg.) and rebounding (7.0 rpg.) and is shooting .762 at the free throw line as well as .411 overall. Next on the scoring chart is Ayreona Carter with 10.3 ppg. while Biance Stocks averages 5.2 points and 2.6 boards. Imani Harris (7.3 ppg.) rounds out LU's top scorers and Chase Giddings averages 1.2 steals.
 
HEAD COACH ADDAE HOUSTON:  A 17-year coaching veteran with strong ties to Missouri, Houston is in his first season as the head coach of the Blue Tigers. Houston helped DI Northwestern State record a .714 home winning percentage in 2023-24 following a successful four-year run as an assistant coach at Northwest Missouri, his alma mater. He was the head coach at Southwestern Community College from 2013-18, leading the team to its first postseason win in over a decade.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Principia 58, Lincoln 46
It was a tale of two halves, as Lincoln led 34-24 at halftime, but Principia scored 34 points over the final 20 minutes to win, 58-46. Hanne Nybo had 10 points and 10 rebounds, Emma Wolken added 10 points and Chase Giddings scored six while also tallying three steals.
 
Central Missouri 89, Lincoln 56
The two teams combined for 52 points in the first quarter, but Central Missouri pulled away in the second half to beat Lincoln, 89-56, in Warrensburg, Mo. on Tuesday (Dec. 17). Imani Harris scored 11 to lead the Blue Tigers while Chase Giddings and Isis Sanders each scored 10.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS:  Katie Horyna leads Emporia State in scoring (17.9), rebounding (5.9) and assists (4.9) while shooting .550 from the floor and .740 at the line. Gracie Gilpin averages 12.1 points and a team-high 1.9 steals, and Faith Paramore is averaging 9.8 points. ESU has been out-scored by an average of 76.6-73.7 per game.
 
ESU HEAD COACH BRIAN OSTERMANN:  The second-year coach of Emporia State has over 35 years of collegiate experience, most notably being the associate head coach of Division I Kansas State for nine season. Ostermann, who is 18-21 with the Lady Hornets, also coached at Texas Christian and spent 14 years as a head coach at the junior college level.
 
FAMILIAR FACES:  Lincoln joined the GLVC last summer, but has still faced plenty of its former rivals from the MIAA this season. LU opened its road slate against Washburn on Nov. 25 before playing at Missouri Western on Nov. 26. This week, Lincoln takes on both Central Missouri and Emporia State. As members of the GLVC, LU also plays former MIAA opponents Missouri S&T, Truman State and Southwest Baptist.
 
NIFTY NYBO:  Hanne Nybo has done a bit of everything this year, including leading LU with 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Nybo, who has two double-doubles this season, has also dished nine assists, registered nine steals and blocked six shots while shooting .411 overall. She scored a season-high 21 against Upper Iowa and has grabbed at least six rebounds in six contests.
 
ON THE CHASE:  Chase Giddings, who had three steals against Principia, leads Lincoln with 11 takeaways. Giddings also had three steals in LU's win over Harris Stowe and has two other performances with multiple takeaways. She is also fourth on the team in scoring with 5.6 points per game with a season-high 11 points against Upper Iowa and 10 points at Central Missouri,
 
NEW BEGINNING:  Imani Harris, who spent the 2023-24 season as a redshirt with the Blue Tigers, has emerged as one of LU's top scorers in her first season playing at Lincoln. Harris, who was ranked as the No. 1 points guard in New York in high school and began her career at Division I Siena, has twice scored 13 points this year and is third on the team with 7.3 points per night.
 
LOCAL TALENT:  A pair of Jefferson City natives have given Lincoln quality minutes this season, as both Emma Wolken and Lyssa Sportsman have played in all nine games. Wolken, a Blair Oaks grad, has four steals and four assists to go with 12 rebounds. Sportsman, who is a Jefferson City High graduate, has 19 boards and a pair of steals as well as three assists.
 
ON TRACK:  Ayreona Carter, who spent 2023-24 as a part of Lincoln's track & field program, has returned to play on the women's basketball team this season and is off to a strong start. Carter, who played basketball in 2021-22 and 2022-23, is currently second on the team with 10.3 points per game. Carter is also averaging 4.0 rebounds and has blocked four shots while recording seven steals.
 
TWO FOUR FOR THREE:  Biance Stocks, #24 on LU's 2024-25 roster, has emerged as Lincoln's best shooter from long distance. Stocks, who is 22nd in the GLVC in treys made per game, has drained 10 treys on the season, a team-high. Stocks has made at least one three in six of her nine games, with two performances of three made treys.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS:  Lincoln is partnering up with Hometown Ticketing once again to sell tickets to all of LU's basketball games online in 2024-25. For more information, or to purchase single game or regular season tickets, visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/Tickets.
 
JOIN THE CLUB:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.
 
WATCH LIVE:  Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on the Blue Tigers to victory via The GLVC Network. Every LU home game will be broadcast through a new multi-camera system and can be seen at https://www.glvcsn.com/lincolnbluetigers.
 
GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.
 
NEXT UP:  The Blue Tigers open 2025 on the road, playing Quincy in Quincy, Ill, on Friday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m. CST.