HAYS, Kan. - A pair of 20-point performances helped the Fort Hays State women's basketball team knock off Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at home (Feb. 17), 82-67. The Tigers evened the season series with the Bronchos after falling by just two points on the road one week ago.
 
Fort Hays State improves to 21-5 on the year and 12-5 in MIAA play, staying in a tie for third in the conference standings with Nebraska-Kearney. UCO dips to 20-6 overall and 11-6 in league action, sliding into a tie for fifth in the league ranks with Emporia State.
 
The win was head coach Tony Hobson's 200th victory at Fort Hays State, making him the second coach in program history to reach the milestone. Hobson is the quickest to reach 200 victories, doing so in less than 10 full seasons at the helm.
 
Carly Heim led the way with 23 points, matching her career high, which was also against the Bronchos one year ago tomorrow (2/18/17). Lanie Page added 20 points with four 3-pointers, giving the sophomore 17 or more points in three-straight games.
 
Fort Hays State quickly built a double-digit lead in the first quarter, using lock-down defense to hold UCO just 1-for-8 shooting over a six-minute stretch to go on a 13-3 run.
 
The Tigers expanded the lead as far as 18 in the second quarter, 35-17, thanks to a 12-0 Tiger run. Page and Heim hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions during the stretch, forcing the Bronchos to use a timeout. The visitors rallied back out of the huddle, closing the half on a 13-5 run to cut within 10, 42-32.
 
The Bronchos were within seven after they opened the second half with a basket and-one, but FHSU responded with an 11-2 run to stretch the lead back to 16 points midway through the third quarter, 57-41. The teams traded buckets the rest of the way, with neither side scoring more than five consecutive points.
 
Fort Hays State knocked down 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field on the afternoon, including 42.1 percent from behind the arc (8-of-19). Fort Hays State gave a strong effort under the basket on Saturday a week after UCO controlled the paint in Edmond, outscoring the Bronchos 36-26 down low.
 
Kacey Kennett dished out a career-high five assists, adding seven points, seven rebounds and two steals. All nine Tigers to check into the game made at least one basket.
 
Jo'Nah Johnson led the Bronchos with 19 points off the bench, including 14 in the second half.
 
The Tigers will look to break the tie in the league standings with Nebraska-Kearney when they travel north to take on the Lopers on Tuesday (Feb. 20). First tip is set for 5:30 p.m. from the Health and Sports Center.