Emporia State, previously ranked #16, fell to the Pitt State Gorillas on Feb. 6, causing ESU to be ranked #21. The final score was 74-66.

The Lady Hornets began the game with a 17-4 lead in the first five minutes, with Kelly Moten, junior guard, scoring eight of those points.

The Hornets retained the lead the first half, ending with 31-17.

“Just like every game, we came out with the same mentality against Pitt,” said Jacee Kramer, sophomore guard. “(We) focus on playing tough and together and doing what we prepare to do in practice.”

After the half, the Gorillas closed that lead, going on a four minute 15-0 run during the third quarter. They outscored the Hornets 20-10, and taking the lead by one point making the score 51-50.

“I think they came out with the same game plan they had originally,” Moten said. “I feel like we weren’t going as hard to the basket as we should have been, and were not able to come up with the win.”

During the fourth quarter, Pitt State missed two free throws and ESU’s Moten made two free throws.

The two teams battled for the lead, until the Gorillas went on a 9-0 run, taking their biggest lead of the game, at 66-56. Pitt State sustained their lead the rest of the game, winning 74-66.

“A lot of us had an off game and obviously that can’t happen in a big game like that,” Kramer said. “Our bench production was absent and a few of our scorers didn’t produce like they normally do. Pitt made some big plays and got a few calls and we didn’t. We didn’t play the way we can and it cost us the game.”

Moten made the most points for the Hornets, at 22. She shot nine for 14 from the field.

Kathryn Flott, junior forward, accomplished a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Kelsey Barnwell, senior guard, made 14 points.

The Gorillas made 30 shots out of 35 from the free throw line, compared to the Hornets who made 14 out of 18.

“Our two best offensive players got in foul trouble, and we couldn’t play them,” said Rory Collins, head coach. “It took Kelly out of her rhythm and she wasn’t the same when she came back. We have really high talented players in the league and our game has gotten very good, and there are parts of the game that just aren’t up to the standard of level of play.”

The Lady Hornets face off against Lincoln University of Missouri at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in Missouri.