HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State survived a late surge from Regis University on Saturday (Nov. 21) at Gross Memorial Coliseum to win 59-55. The 10^th-ranked Tigers improved to 4-0 on the season, despite getting outscored by seven in the second half.
 
The Tigers had another tough night shooting the ball, especially in the fourth quarter when they were looking to get separation from the Rangers. FHSU shot just 21.1 percent in the final quarter (4-of-19), allowing Regis to hang around.
 
Regis had an opportunity to tie the game with two free-throws with 1:48 remaining. After hitting the first, a Regis player committed a lane violation and left the Tigers in front by one, 53-52. Both teams missed their next field goal attempts, but Taylor Chandler would push the lead back to three on a pair of free-throws with 46 seconds to go.
 
The Tiger defense tightened the screws on the ensuing Regis inbounds and forced a five-second count. Ten seconds later, Chandler went to the free-throw line again and buried two more free-throws to give the Tigers breathing room.
 
Regis remained alive with 20 seconds to go as Bay'lee Purdy hit a 3-point field goal well beyond the arc to cut it back to two points, but Beth Bohuslavsky sealed the game with two more free-throws. Regis missed two late shot attempts before the final horn.
 
FHSU finished the game at 32.8 percent from the field, while Regis shot 47.5 percent. Once again, turnovers were a recipe of success for a poor-shooting Tiger team as they forced 20 out of the Rangers. FHSU committed just six turnovers.
 
Jill Faxon led the Tigers in scoring for the second straight night with 16. Elle Stein and Chandler each had nine and Bohuslavsky added eight. Bohuslavsky had a team-high four assists.
 
Bay'lee Purdy led Regis in scoring with 16 points, which included four 3-point field goals. Caresse Williams had 13 and Kaylie Rader added 10.
 
The Tigers return to the floor on Tuesday night (Nov. 24) against Newman University at 5:30 pm.