Box Score
Freshman Kate Lehman's career-high 28 points and 17 rebounds pushed Fort Hays State to a 67-58 road win over Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 18) in Joplin, Mo. The Tigers won their fourth-straight game and upped their record to 19-7 (11-7) in the MIAA.
 
Lehman was impressive for the Tigers, scoring her 28 points on 13-of-14 shooting from field. Her 17 rebounds are the most Tiger rebounds since exactly three years ago when Erica Biel grabbed 17 boards on Feb. 18, 2009 against Southwest Baptist, which is 10th all-time in single-game rebounds. The freshman center also totaled six blocks, giving her 87 on the season, which is already a school record. The double-double is her eighth on the season and ties her with teammate Katelyn Edwards for first on the team and second in the MIAA this season.
 
After falling behind 31-25 at the end of the first half, the Tigers started the second half with a 7-0 run to take a one-point advantage, 32-31. Katelyn Edwards started the run with a layup and senior guard Crista Bechard hit a 3-point shot to close to within one. A Lehman layup gave the Tigers their first lead since 13-11 at 12:39 of the first half.
 
The host Lions regained the advantage with less than 17 minutes remaining at 33-32 and held a slight advantage until 8:33 left when Kimber Weiser's two free throws tied the score at 49-49. Weiser hit two very crucial 3-pointers down the stretch. With the score knotted at 50-50, the senior guard hit a triple, giving the Tigers a 53-50 advantage at 7:37. After a Lehman layup upped the score to 55-52, Weiser knocked in her second 3, doubling the Tiger advantage to 58-52 with 4:32 remaining.
 
Lehman (two) and Weiser scored three layups, and Kaiameka Brown hit 3-of-4 free throws to close out the game.
 
In the second half, FHSU outscored the Lions 42-27 and shot a blistering 52 percent (13-25) from the field, including 60 percent (3-of-5) from 3-point range. The Tiger defense held MSSU to 33.3 percent (9-27) in the second half and 33.9 percent (19-56) in the game. The Tigers finished the game shooting 42.6 percent (23-54) from the field.
 
For the second-straight game, the bench play of Brown and Weiser sparked the Tigers. The duo both tallied double figures with 12 points and totaled 24 of the Tigers' 28 bench points. Weiser was 4-of-7 from the field and 2-for-4 from behind the arc. Brown scored 10 of her 12 points from the free-throw line, going 10-of-12 from the line.
 
The Lions were led by a double-double performance from Shatara Stone, who scored 19 points and 16 points. Erin Rice also scored in double figures with 11 points.
 
The Tigers finish the regular season with two home games. FHSU welcomes Pittsburg State to Gross Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday (Feb. 22) for a 5:30 p.m. tip.