HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team was unable to keep pace with sharp-shooting Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon (Jan. 13) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, losing 78-64. The Lopers knocked down an impressive 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the floor, including a season-high 68.8 percent from behind the 3-point arc (11-of-16). The Tigers dip to 12-4 on the year and 3-4 in MIAA play, while UNK is now 12-3 overall and 4-3 in league action.
 
The loss ends a 14-game winning streak for Fort Hays State against the Lopers, dating back to 2008.
 
Nebraska-Kearney jumped out to an early lead before Lanie Page scored eight straight points for the Tigers to put FHSU in front three different times. A 3-pointer from Carly Heim tied things up at 10 before Page drove in for a layup to put the Tigers in front for the first time five minutes into the contest. UNK responded after each Page bucket, ultimately wrapping up the first quarter with a 20-18 lead. The teams combined to shoot 54.8 percent from the floor in the opening quarter.
 
The Lopers took control in the second quarter, jumping in front by 11 after opening the quarter on an 11-2 run. The Tigers were able to claw within six after back-to-back jumpers from Whitney Clampitt and Heim late in the half, but UNK scored the final five points to go back up by 11 at the break, 43-32. The Lopers drilled 64 percent of their shots in the first half.
 
Fort Hays State fell behind by as many as 17 when the Lopers scored the first five points of the second half, but the Tigers were not finished. FHSU went on an 11-1 run to close within seven late in the third quarter, 52-45. Tatyana Legette scored seven of her nine third quarter points during the run. The Lopers rebounded to score the final eight points of the period, going in front by 15 heading into the final quarter, 60-45.
 
The Tigers were unable to bounce back over the final 10 minutes, with UNK responding to every FHSU run.
 
Legette paced the team with her first 20-point outing of the season, scoring 20 points while grabbing five rebounds. Heim tallied 10 points while dishing out five assists. McKenzie Brown carried the Lopers to victory with a career-high 28 points, including a 6-of-6 effort from behind the arc.
 
Fort Hays State will return to action Thursday (Jan. 18) when Missouri Western makes the trip to Hays. First tip between the Tigers and Griffons is set for 5:30 p.m.