Box Score

Following a tough defensive double-overtime battle in Kirksville, Mo. this past Saturday, the Fort Hays State women survived against a hot shooting Central Oklahoma team at home on Wednesday (Jan. 30) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays by a score of 84-78. Katelyn Edwards broke a 78-78 tie with a pair of free-throws with 14 seconds left and a defensive stop led to a pair of free-throws by Beth Bohuslavsky to put the game away with five seconds remaining. FHSU improved to 13-5 overall and 5-5 in the MIAA with the win.

The Lady Tigers dug in defensively after Edwards' free-throws, forcing a turnover from Alyssa Fuxa at the top of the key with five seconds left. Bohuslavsky stepped to the line for a pair to put the game away for good and another late turnover led to a pair of free-throws for Keriann Shaw to push the Lady Tiger winning advantage to six.

Central Oklahoma (8-10, 1-9 MIAA) gave the Lady Tigers a battle throughout the night, taking the early lead by as many as six points twice in the first five minutes of the game. A quick 7-0 burst led to a four-point lead for FHSU, a lead they would keep the remainder of the opening half. The lead grew to as many as eight three times in the opening half and was six at halftime for FHSU.

The Bronchos showed they were sticking around early in the second half, pulling back even with FHSU at the 17:27 mark. Fort Hays State responded with a 9-0 run to gain its largest lead of the game at 49-40 with 15:25 to play. But once again, UCO responded by going on a 10-2 run to get back within one. UCO tied the game twice after that before finally pushing into the lead with 2:34 remaining on a Chelsi Dennis 3-point field goal. After FHSU immediately took the lead back on a 3-point play by Edwards, UCO had a 3-point play of its own in response to take its final lead of the game, 75-74, with 1:36 remaining.

The teams continued to slug back and forth. Traci Keyser broke a tie with a 3-point field goal with 58 seconds remaining, but Fuxa responded with a three on the other end with 34 seconds remaining. Edwards would go on to draw the foul with 14 seconds remaining that would break the tie with the game-deciding free-throws.

Edwards had a monster offensive effort for the Lady Tigers, scoring 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field to go with a 12-of-13 effort at the free-throw line. It was a season high in points for Edwards, scoring 20 or more for the first time this season. She also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Bohuslavsky, who had the first start of her career due to an injury to Kaiameka Brown, had a team-high five assists. Kate Lehman and Keyser each had 15 points. All 15 for Keyser were on five 3-point field goals.Tera Ingalsbe added 13 points. FHSU was held to just one blocked shot in the game, recorded by Edwards, as Lehman went without a blocked shot in a game for the first time this season.

Savannah Hamilton led UCO with 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, also adding five blocked shots. McKenzie Solberg, Alyssa Fuxa, and Jill Bryan all had 13 points.

Fort Hays State looks to keep its momentum moving forward against Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 2) in Hays. Game time is set for 2 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.