No. 6 Fort Hays State used three double-digit scoring efforts and hot starts in the first and second periods to knock off No. 2 Emporia State, 65-55, in Emporia and remain first place in the MIAA standings on Wednesday (Jan. 28).
 
FHSU (19-1, 11-0 MIAA) has won 18 straight games and now holds a two-game lead in the conference, remaining in the hunt for the NCAA Central Regional with eight games to go in the regular season. The Tigers knocked off the No. 4 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation to keep a stranglehold on their lead in the conference standings.
 
The Tigers looked good early, jumping out to a 10-4 lead in the opening 5:25 of action, ending the spurt on a 5-0 run.  Soon after, the Tigers followed it with a 14-2 run while pushing the lead to 19 (29-10) inside seven minutes to go in the half.  The rally started with nine unanswered for FHSU.  That lead reached 20 (35-15) once in the first half with 4:10 to go in the half, and the Tigers lead, 35-21, at the break after ESU went on a 6-0 run to end the first.
 
FHSU again started strong in the second, outscoring the Lady Hornets 8-2 in the opening three minutes.  That lead, however, diminished over the next six minutes as ESU broke off a 6-0 run and two bursts of five unanswered to bring the lead to seven (51-44) with 9:59 to go.  A three-pointer from Jill Faxon at 9:00 stopped ESU's run and pushed the margin back to 10, though ESU outscored the Tigers 21-8 leading up to Faxon's field goal.
 
Though ESU brought the lead inside ten three other times in the game, three FHSU free throws inside the final minute helped secure the win.
 
Kate Lehman led the Tigers with 18 points and 13 rebounds, recording her eighth consecutive double-double while adding three blocks.  Additionally, Lehman climbed into third all-time on FHSU's scoring list and now has 1,672 for her career.
 
Chelsea Mason hit four three-pointers to finish with 14 points on the night, while Jill Faxon reached double digits for the third straight game with 12 points. 
 
Beth Bohuslavsky had three assists on the night to lead the team, adding seven points in the effort, while Keriann Shaw had eight rebounds.

The Tigers shot 39 percent in the game and hit 33 percent of their three-pointers. They shot 13-of-21 from the charity stripe.
 
It was the second time in two seasons FHSU defeated the Lady Hornets while ESU was ranked in the Top 5, and the third Top 5 victory in program history for the Tigers.  It was also the Tigers' first victory in Emporia since the 1995-96 season, snapping a 12-game losing streak in White Auditorium and Emporia State's 23-game home court win streak coming into the game.
 
Fort Hays State continues its rivalry run this weekend at Washburn, looking to keep its cushion in the MIAA standings.  Game time in Topeka, Kan., is set for 5 p.m., from Lee Arena.