Box Score

The 10th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2012-13 season by a score of 54-44 at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. on Thursday (Jan. 3). The loss puts FHSU at 10-1 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA, ending the best start to a season in FHSU women's basketball history.

The tone was set early when the teams were locked in a defensive battle early. Northeastern led by just one point, 18-17, at halftime. FHSU shot barely over 30 percent from the field in the first half, but held NSU to just 26.1 percent in the opening half. Tera Ingalsbe was the only FHSU player with more than one field goal in the opening half as she led the way with six points at the break.

Timely 3-point field goals by the Riverhawks in the second half kept the Lady Tigers from ever gaining a lead. FHSU tied the game at 21-21 before NSU hit consecutive 3-point field goals to take a six-point lead, which felt like a mountain after how the first half played out.

A Tosha Tyler despiration 3-point field goal attempt with the shot clock expiring with 12:33 remaining went through after a great defensive effort by the Lady Tigers on the possession. That was a key point in NSU keeping the momentum in its favor.

Kaiameka Brown hit a 3-point field goal to answer the deep 3-point attempt, but NSU went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-point lead with 8:53 remaining.

The Lady Tigers kept fighting, going on an 8-0 run to cut the lead back to three at 37-34 with 5:41 remaining, but just like earlier in the second half, the Riverhawks buried 3-point field goals on consecutive trips to run the lead back to nine. FHSU could never recover from that burst, never getting closer than seven the rest of the way.

Northeastern State remained unbeaten in its home gym this year and tallied their second win over a ranked team at home this year. The Riverhawks have made at least the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three years.

The Riverhawks warmed to 45.8 percent from the field in the second half and held the Lady Tigers to 28.1 percent from the field after halftime. FHSU finished just 29.1 percent (16-of-55) overall from the field. NSU finished at 36.2 percent overall.

Katelyn Edwards was the only FHSU player to score in double figures with 12 points. She added 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Ingalsbe finished with eight points and Brown and Kate Lehman each finished with seven.

Tosha Tyler led NSU in scoring with 19 points and Taylor Lewis was right behind with 17. The two players combined for all six 3-point field goals for the Riverhawks in the game.

Fort Hays State gets another stiff test on Saturday afternoon at Emporia State, another school that began the season in the national rankings.