Box Score

Fifth-seeded Fort Hays State University fell just short in its comeback effort in the MIAA semifinals, dropping a 71-69 contest to top-seeded Central Missouri on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.
 
FHSU (21-8) forced 14 turnovers, including eight steals, but shot just 30.1 percent from the field in the loss.
 
Kate Lehman posted her 20th double-double of the season, finishing with a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds.  Chelsea Mason had 16 points in the win, while Katelyn Edwards had 15 points to go with eight rebounds. 
 
Taylor Chandler dished out four assists to go with seven points and three steals in 23 minutes played. 
 
The Tigers led 3-0 one minute into the game, but a 9-0 run by UCM gave the Jennies the lead for the remainder of the half.  FHSU was held without points for over six minutes during that stretch, but would climb back to tie the game at 13-all with 9:41 to play in the half.  Fort Hays State stayed close until the break, trailing by two (30-28) at half.
 
Fort Hays State took a one-point lead (37-36) four minutes into the second half, but UCM answered with an 11-0 burst that saw the Jennies' lead grow to 47-37 near the 12-minute mark.
 
Down 14 (56-42) under the 10-minute mark, Lehman's free throws at 8:11 started a 22-4 burst for FHSU that lasted over five minutes, giving FHSU the lead (64-60) with 4:05 to play.  The Tigers had three separate runs of five or more unanswered during that stretch, including nine points from Lehman. 
 
After UCM regained the lead inside the final minute, Edwards hit a free throw with 35 seconds to go that tied the game, 69-69.  UCM's Keuna Flax hit a layup with five seconds remaining gave the Jennies the win.
 
FHSU, which held the No. 9 spot in the most recent NCAA Central Region rankings, will wait and see if its 21-8 overall record is good enough to earn a berth to the NCAA Championships.  The NCAA Selection Show is on Sunday (March 9) at 9 p.m.  Here is a direct link…Selection Show