MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team had another chance to send an exhibition game into overtime Thursday (Nov. 1), but Kansas State held on to top the Tigers, 48-46. Fort Hays State led for the majority of the game (25:36), including by as many as nine points late in the third quarter.
 
Neither side could get much going on offense, with K-State outshooting FHSU, 30.6 percent to 23.4 percent. The teams combined to hit 5-of-42 from behind the 3-point line.
 
The teams went back and forth in the opening quarter, with neither side leading by more than three. A late triple from Hailey Walker put the Tigers in front just before the period ended, 13-10. The teams then tied over the next two periods, with each squad putting up 10 points in the second quarter and 13 in the third.
 
The Tigers started to pull away on two occasions, but the Wildcats closed both the second and third quarters on runs to close back within three. Fort Hays State rallied from one down early in the second period to lead by eight after holding the Wildcats scoreless for more than five minutes. Tatyana Legette drilled a 3-pointer to put the Tigers back in front at the 7:31 mark before Whitney Randall dropped in a layup off a pass from Whitney Clampitt on the following possession. Legette and Belle Barbieri added layups as the defense stepped up on the other end, giving FHSU a 22-14 lead with 3:35 to go before halftime. K-State scored six of the final seven points to close within 23-20 at halftime.
 
K-State again took the lead early in the second half before the Black and Gold scored 11 straight, going in front 36-27. Barbieri hit a layup and the ensuing free throw after being fouled to put the Tigers in front by one. Kacey Kennett hit a jumper before making a steal and taking it straight to the bucket for a layup, forcing a Wildcat timeout down 34-27. A layup from Walker gave the Tigers their largest lead of the game with 2:36 to go in the third period.
 
Unfortunately the Tigers went cold at the wrong time, hitting just one shot after going in front by nine (1-for-16). The Wildcats committed five quick fouls in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers in the bonus, allowing FHSU to stay in the game with free throws. Although they hit just 8-of-14 from the line and 1-of-12 from the field in the period, the Tiger defense gave them a chance to tie or take the lead on the final possession. The ball found Sunday's hero Taylor Rolfs, but her driving layup was blocked by Peyton Williams, securing K-State's come-from-behind victory.
 
Legette led the game with a double-double, recording 14 points and 11 rebounds. Kennett scored nine points and Barbieri grabbed eight rebounds. K-State was led by Rachel Ranke's 12 points.
 
The Tigers open the regular season next Friday (Nov. 9) when they host Southwest Minnesota State inside Gross Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m.