KEARNEY, Neb. - With Nebraska-Kearney in the midst of a 12-0 run and trying to pull away in the fourth quarter, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team went to its leading scorer in search of an answer. Tatyana Legette did that and more, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers rally back for a huge road win Tuesday evening (Feb. 20), 69-67.
 
The Tigers improve to 22-5 on the year and more importantly 13-5 in MIAA play, where they are now in sole possession of third place in the conference standings. Nebraska-Kearney dips to 20-6 overall and 12-6 in league action after losing for the third time in five games.
 
Fort Hays State can secure a first round bye in the MIAA Tournament and a trip to Kansas City when Southwest Baptist makes the trip to Hays on Thursday (Feb. 22). First tip in the Senior Night contest is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
After the Lopers scored 10-straight points to close the third quarter, the home team scored first in the fourth period to stretch out its largest lead of the evening, 48-42. The Tigers missed their next three shots before deciding to go to Legette in the post. A strong post move from the junior ended the UNK run and started a scoring spurt for the Tigers.
 
Carly Heim added a layup on the following possession following a Kacey Kennett offensive rebound to cut within two before Legette made a steal around midcourt and tied things up with a breakaway layup. The Tigers took the lead on the following possession when Kennett hit a pair of free throws after grabbing another offensive rebound.
 
The teams then went back-and-forth over the next two minutes, scoring on seven-straight possessions. Kelsey Sanger dropped in a layup to give Nebraska-Kearney what would prove to be its final lead of the game with four minutes to play, 57-56.
 
The lead changed hands for the 14th and final time got the ball to Legette on back-to-back possessions, with the forward getting fouled in the act of making a layup both times. Legette hit both free throws to put the Tigers in front by five, 62-57. While the Tigers played solid defense on one end of the floor, Legette and Heim added free throws on the other end to put the Tigers in front by seven with 66 seconds to play, 64-57.
 
Fort Hays State led by seven once again with 43 seconds to play after Kennett dropped in a pair of free throws, but the Lopers closed within one over the next 27 seconds. McKenzie Brown made a layup and was fouled, making the free throw before Alyssa Frauendorfer drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner with 16 seconds to play.
 
Emma Stroyan hit two free throws two seconds later to stretch the lead back to three before the Lopers drove to the basket for a quick layup after a timeout. Heim then earned a trip to the line, making the first before missing the second to put the Tigers in front 69-67. The Lopers grabbed the rebound and had to go the length of the floor in just seven seconds, with Michaela Barry heaving up a 3-pointer with two defenders in her face. The ball ricocheted off the front iron as time expired, sealing the victory for FHSU.
 
The Tigers had their hands full in the first quarter as Nebraska-Kearney hit 4-of-5 from behind the arc to go in front by five after 10 minutes of play, 21-16. FHSU responded with a 15-3 run over a 5-minute stretch in the second quarter, grabbing the lead right back by limiting the Lopers to just two field goals in the period.
 
Fort Hays State led by as many as eight early in the third quarter, 39-31, when Legette knocked down shots on back-to-back possessions. The Tigers then went cold over the last seven minutes of the third quarter, knocking down just one shot over that span. UNK held the TIgers to just seven points in the third frame, their lowest scoring output in a quarter this season.
 
Legette led all scorers with a season-high 22 points, knocking down 9-of-13 from the floor (9-of-10 from inside the 3-point line) and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. Belle Barbieri grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, including four on the offensive glass to help the Tigers to 17 second-chance points. Kennett grabbed a season-high eight rebounds while knocking down all four of her free throws. Stroyan added 14 points, with Heim chipping in 13. Lanie Page dished out three assists and was a handful on the defensive end, swiping one steal and adding two blocks.
 
The Tigers won the game under the basket, outscoring UNK 46-26 in the paint. Both sides took care of the ball extremely well, making just 17 turnovers between the two teams (FHSU 8, UNK 9). While nothing seemed to fall from behind the arc for the Tigers (1-of-19), they hit an impressive 60.5 percent from inside the 3-point line (26-of-43).