Box Score

The Fort Hays State women's basketball team turned an 11-point first half deficit into a seven-point lead with just over seven minutes to play on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 21) at Gross Memorial Coliseum, but the Lady Tigers were unable to finish the game. Lincoln took advantage of FHSU miscues down the stretch and sent the game to overtime tied at 70-70 after a basket from Arriana Walker with 10 seconds to play in regulation. Fort Hays State was again unable to put Lincoln away in the extra session and the Blue Tigers got two free throws from Bria Dillard with 3.5 seconds to play to give them a 76-75 victory.

Free throws were the story of the game of Fort Hays State, who built their largest lead of the game 60-53 on a three pointer from Katelyn Edwards with 7:02 to play in the game. Lincoln scored six straight points after that to cut the lead to one, but FHSU managed to keep them at arm's length until the final possession of regulation. FHSU was 2-of-6 from the stripe in the final 2:02 of regulation and overtime, while Lincoln was 9-of-9 from the line after intermission. For the game, the Lady Tigers hit just 7-of-16 (43.8%) free throws as opposed to Lincoln's 10-of-11 (90.9%).

That spoiled what otherwise was a solid performance by FHSU, who got strong outings from Katelyn Edwards and Kate Lehman. Edwards exploded for a career-high 33 points on 15-of-24 shooting from the field, which included 2-of-5 shooting from three point range, before fouling out on the final foul call of the game. Coming into the game, Edwards was 0-for-3 from beyond the arc for the year. Lehman had another good effort and both ends of the floor, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds and a new season-high of eight blocked shots. However, Lehman was one of the main culprits at the free throw line, connecting on just one of her seven attempts from the stripe.

Lehman's defense was a main reason Fort Hays State was able to hold the MIAA's third-leading scorer and leading rebounder Vivian Essuon to just 12 points and four rebounds, which are both well below her season averages. Four other players stepped up and scored in double figures for the Blue Tigers, however, led by 19 from Walker, 16 from Freddie Sims, 13 from Jackeya Mitchell and 10 from Dillard. Lincoln's quickness on defense also caused problems for FHSU after they forced 16 Tiger turnovers, including nine steals.

Fort Hays State is now in the midst of a three-game slide and have dropped to 14-5 (6-5 MIAA) on the year. Things do not get any easier for the Lady Tigers, who now have three consecutive road games, beginning next Saturday (Jan. 28) with the MIAA Network Game of the Week at Northwest Missouri State.

Lincoln is now just one game behind FHSU in the MIAA standings at 11-6 (5-6 MIAA) and they are forcing their way into a logjam in the middle of the conference standings.