Box Score Fort Hays State University's second half comeback fell just short in a 49-48 loss at Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon.
 
FHSU (12-3, 6-3 MIAA) trailed by eight with four minutes to go, but stormed back to take a one-point lead with 21 seconds remaining.  Two late NSU (8-8, 5-4 MIAA) free throws, however, sunk the effort.
 
The Tigers shot 31.5 percent from the field on the night, and 5-of-23 from long range.  After showing marked improvement over the past three games in free throw shooting, FHSU's struggles re-appeared as the team hit 50 percent from the line (9-of-18).
 
Kate Lehman led the team with 19 points, pulling down seven rebounds as well.  Chelsea Mason had 11 points on the day, while Katelyn Edwards had a team-best nine rebounds to go with four points. 
 
Taylor Chandler led the team with three steals.
 
Up 8-6 near the 17-minute mark of the first half, FHSU was held scoreless for over five minutes, but strong defense helped the Tigers maintain the lead until 13:38, when a NSU jumper tied the game at 8-all and sparked a 10-0 run for the home team, sending the game inside the 10-minute media timeout.
 
With 9:43 to go in the half, Mason hit a 3-pointer to break the Tigers' drought, starting a burst of nine unanswered for FHSU to retake the lead, 17-16, at 7:22.
 
At the half, FHSU trailed NSU by three, 25-22.  The Tigers went just 1-of-9 from long range in the first half, and struggled on the boards as the RiverHawks owned the rebounding advantage, 17-14.
 
Down four inside the 15-minute media timeout, Paige Lunsford's 3-pointer pulled the Tigers within one (32-31) at 13:55, but NSU scored five unanswered to jump back ahead, 37-31, with 11:13 to go.
 
With 4:18 remaining, FHSU trailed by eight, but soon started a 15-4 run that gave FHSU a lead inside the final minute. 

Lehman started the run with a layup just inside the four minute mark, followed closely by Mason's 3-pointer that shrunk the deficit to just three, 45-42.  After a minute of scoreless action, Beth Bohuslavsky hit a 3-pointer at 1:56 to tie the game, just prior to an FHSU timeout.  

Out of the pause, an NSU layup and a Lehman free throw had the score at 48-47 (NSU leading) with just 39 seconds to go.

FHSU took the lead with 21 seconds remaining, as Chandler picked up a steal on Kate Bellamy's turnover and scored on fast break layup.  The Tigers led by one, 48-47 at that point.
 
Needing a stop to seal the win, FHSU was whistled for a foul with 3.5 seconds remaining, sending Bellamy to the line for two shots – which she hit to put NSU ahead, 49-48.
 
As time expired, Bohuslavsky launched a desperation 3-pointer that hit the rim and bounced off – just missing the last second bucket.
 
Fort Hays State returns to Gross Memorial Coliseum this week for a Thursday night matchup against South Dakota School of Mines.  The non-conference game is slated for 5:30 p.m., on Jan. 23.