Fort Hays State continued its winning ways with its 14th consecutive victory, taking down Central Oklahoma, 60-52, in a physical contest on Thursday (Jan. 15) 
 
FHSU (15-1, 8-0 MIAA) was in control early, taking a 15-2 lead in the opening nine minutes thanks to a 12-0 run, but the Bronchos answered with five straight before back and forth play brought the Tigers to the break with a 29-20 lead. 
 
The second half put FHSU in a much more competitive setting, as UCO broke off a 5-0 run early in the half to cut the lead to five (34-29) at 15:35.  Though the Tigers stopped the run, UCO continued to charge, running off nine unanswered shortly after to take a three-point lead (41-38) with 11:17 to go. 
 
It was the first time UCO led in the game, but Chelsea Mason's three-pointer near the 11-minute mark stopped the run, tied the game at 41 and allowed the Tigers to catch their breath.
 
Setting up for a close finish, the Tigers fell behind again before another three-pointer from Mason re-tied it at 8:42 (45-45) and was part of a 7-1 run that helped FHSU regain the lead for good.
 
Up one (51-50) with four minutes to go, Fort Hays State put the game away by outscoring UCO 9-2 down the stretch.  Inside the final two minutes, the Tigers closed the game on a 5-0 run.
 
Kate Lehman posted her fourth consecutive double-double, leading the team with 18 points while grabbing 12 rebounds with five blocks.  Lehman now has 450 career blocks and is just three points away from 1,600 points in her career.
 
Keriann Shaw led the Tigers in rebounding for the second straight game, pulling down 13 boards to go with seven points.  Shaw has picked up her statistical numbers of late and has 46 rebounds over the last four games – tied for most on the team.
 
Chelsea Mason's 15 points was second most on the team, helped by a 3-of-7 effort from beyond the arc.
 
Paige Lunsford dished out a team-leading four assists, while fellow guards Beth Bohuslavsky, Nikola Kacperska and Jill Faxon each had three assists.  Kacperska's four steals was a team-high.
 
FHSU struggled offensively, hitting just 55 percent of its free throws (9-of-16) while shooting 33.8 percent – its third lowest shooting performance of the year.  UCO, however, was not much better, finishing 19-of-53 (35.8 percent) from the field and hit just 18.8 percent of its three-pointers (3-of-16).
 
Second chance points were a key advantage for the Tigers, as FHSU grabbed 18 offensive rebounds (compared to UCO's eight) and outscored the Bronchos, 16-3, in that category.
 
A combined 35 fouls were called in the game, as Elle Stein and UCO's Kylie Mayes fouled out.  Lehman (four fouls) and UCO's Julia Mason and Olivia Mason (three fouls each) were in foul trouble as well.
 
The 14 consecutive wins is tied for the second longest win streak in FHSU history, matching an effort during the Tigers' 1990-91 NAIA National Championship season.  The Tigers' longest win streak is 20, also set in the 1990-91 season.

The win moved the Tigers' home record to 10-0 on the year and kept FHSU unbeaten in conference play.  FHSU is in the midst of a stretch with seven of 10 games against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the WBCA Top 25.
 
The Tigers' home stand continues this weekend with a 1:30 p.m. contest on Saturday (Jan. 17) against Northeastern State.