KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A quick start was not enough for the Fort Hays State women's basketball team in the 2018 MIAA Women's Basketball Championship game Sunday (March 4), with Lindenwood rallying in the second half to take the conference crown, 58-51. The Tigers move to 25-6 on the season, while Lindenwood is now 20-12 and will receive an automatic bid into the 2018 NCAA Division II central region tournament.
 
The Tigers entered the tournament ranked ninth in the region rankings and defeated two strong opponents in Emporia State and Pittsburg State, who was fifth in the last regional poll. FHSU will learn its fate in the NCAA tournament Sunday evening at 9 p.m. when the NCAA DII Selection Show is streamed live on NCAA.com.
 
Fort Hays State appeared to be in complete control through the majority of the first half, going in front by 13 just five minutes into the contest, 15-2. The Tigers hit six of their first eight shots during the run, with all five starters making at least one bucket.
 
The championship game proved to be a game of runs, with both sides going through extended scoring droughts throughout the afternoon. The Lions closed within one by the midpoint in the second half after a 14-2 run, 21-20, before Fort Hays State built the lead back to double digits by scoring nine-straight thanks to a strong effort from Belle Barbieri. The sophomore twice went up strong with the ball, dropping in two layups and turning one into a 3-point play. She also grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds during the run.
 
Lindenwood answered by scoring the final seven points in the first half, going into the locker room down 30-27.
 
The hot start quickly faded for the Tigers, as FHSU made just 24 percent from the floor in the second half (7-of-29). The Lions took advantage of a nearly eight minute shooting drought for FHSU, taking the lead for the first time with 1:01 to play in the third quarter. Carly Heim made a nice move to the basket and was fouled on the ensuing possession, knocking down the layup and the free throw to put the Tigers up by two, 40-38, with one quarter to play.
 
The Lions pulled away in the fourth quarter, knocking down 45.5 percent of their shots from the floor and held on down the stretch thanks to an 8-of-10 effort at the charity stripe in the final period. LU scored the first eight points in the period to go up by six, with Fort Hays State failing to score over the first five minutes of the frame. Heim eventually ended the dry spell with a driving layup before helping the Tigers pull within two with another layup with 2:26 to go, but Lindenwood banked in a 3-pointer on the following possession to go back up by five.
 
Heim made it six-straight points when she hit a long jumper from the right wing and Taylor Rolfs drilled just the second 3-pointer of the afternoon for the Tigers to close within three with 28 seconds to go, but the Lions hit all six of their free throws in the waning seconds to hold on and win.
 
Heim led the team in scoring for the third time this tournament, tallying 14 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Barbieri added seven points and nine rebounds while Emma Stroyan and Kacey Kennett contributed eight points each.
 
The Tigers hit just 29.7 percent of their shots on the afternoon (19-of-64), their first game below 30 percent in more than one year (2/1/17 at ESU). Lindenwood knocked down 38.5 percent from the floor, including a 6-for-20 effort from behind the 3-point line.

Carly Heim and Tatyana Legette were named to the All-Tournament team for their performances this weekend. Heim averaged 14 points, 5.3 rebounds and two steals per game in KC while Legette averaged eight points, eight rebounds and 2.7 assists through the three games.