Box Score

The Fort Hays State women's basketball team played valiantly on Saturday night (Mar. 9) at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, but ended up on the short end of an 87-78 score, falling to Central Missouri in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals. The loss puts FHSU at 22-7 overall. Central Missouri improved to 24-4 with the win.

Fort Hays Stat had a five-point lead with 3:17 remaining, but could not close out Central Missouri down the stretch. A big 3-point field goal by Central Missouri's Keuna Flax pulled the Jennies back within two, but Katelyn Edwards pushed the lead back to three by hitting one of two free-throws with 2:41 to go.

The lead was trimmed to one at the 1:00 mark as Flax hit a pair of free-throws for the Jennies, but the Tigers missed four free-throws in the final minute that could have possibly sealed the game. With seven seconds remaining, Central Missouri's BreAnna Lewis was fouled, but she hit just one of two, leaving the game tied 75-75 at the end of regulation. Central Missouri opened overtime on a 7-0 run and it was too much for Fort Hays State to overcome. FHSU had just three points in the extra period.

Katelyn Edwards posted a near triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Senior Kaiameka Brown had a career high 18 points, going 7-of-12 from the field, 1-of-1 beyond the 3-point line, and 3-of-3 at the free-throw line. She also dished out three assists. Kate Lehman still scored 17 points, pulled down nine rebounds, and blocked five shots despite fouling out for the first time this season.

BreAnna Lewis led UCM with 27 points. Keuna Flax had a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds and Nicole Caddell also had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Quinnecia Twine also reached double figures in scoring for UCM with 13.