EMPORIA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team was on the losing end of a back-and-forth affair Saturday afternoon (Dec. 9) against Emporia State, 73-70. The Tigers' second straight road loss moves them to 7-2 overall and 2-2 in league play, while the Lady Hornets improve to 6-2 on the year and 2-0 in the MIAA.
 
The Tigers led by as many as 10 in the first half after going on an 11-0 run spanning the end of the first and start of the second quarter. FHSU then hit just two buckets over the last eight-plus minutes of the second period, allowing the Lady Hornets to battle back and tie things up at halftime, 30-30.
 
Emporia State dominated the third quarter to stretch out a double-digit lead of its own with 10 minutes to play, 55-44. The Tigers stormed back behind a 19-7 run to retake the lead midway through the fourth quarter, 63-62. Taylor Rolfs poured in a trio of 3-pointers in the rally, two of which were several steps behind the arc. Emma Stroyan hit a layup and was fouled at the 5:50 mark, sinking the layup to close within one, 60-59. After ESU knocked down a pair of free throws, Rolfs added her third triple from way downtown on the left wing to tie things up at 62 with 5:25 to play. Tatyana Legette gave the Tigers their first lead since the first half with a free throw on the next possession, 63-62. The Lady Hornets went back up by two with buckets on their next two possessions, but Kacey Kennett answered with a big bucket, drilling a three-pointer from right in front of the Tiger bench to put the Tigers in front with just over three minutes to play, 67-66.
 
The Lady Hornets snatched the lead right back on the ensuing trip down the floor before coming up with a big stop on defense. A big 3-pointer from Emily Miller put the home team in front by four with 1:07 on the clock. Legette found an opening and knocked down a pull-up jumper from the elbow with 47 ticks remaining, closing within two. Emporia State knocked down 2-of-4 attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch, leaving the door open for the Tigers. Fort Hays State inbounded the ball with six seconds left trailing by three, quickly getting the ball to the hot hand in Rolfs. The sophomore used a ball fake to create separation from her defender, but her game-tying attempt rattled out.
 
Stroyan led the Tigers with a season-high 18 points, adding six rebounds, one block and one steal. Rolfs knocked down five 3-pointers for the first time in her career, totaling a career-high 17 points while dishing out four assists. Legette chipped in 16 points while matching her career-high with four blocks.
 
The Tigers made 16 turnovers for the second game in a row, making more than their opponents for the first time this season with ESU making 15 miscues. Emporia State held a significant advantage in the paint, outscoring FHSU 38-26 down low. Neither side was particularly sharp from the charity stripe, with FHSU knocking down 14-of-21 and ESU sinking just 14-of-20.
 
Fort Hays State will take a break from conference play over the holiday break when they host Tabor in a midweek contest Wednesday (Dec. 13) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. First tip is set for 7 p.m.