HAYS, Kan. - The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team used a dominant third quarter to rally and defeat Central Oklahoma Friday evening (Dec. 17) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, 78-71. The Tigers (8-1, 3-1 MIAA) trailed by four at halftime, but a 3-pointer from Jaden Hobbs two-and-a-half minutes into the third quarter put FHSU in front for good.
 
The Tigers were able to overcome 21 turnovers in the contest, FHSU's most in a game in seven years (2/8/14 at Emporia State). Central Oklahoma (7-4, 3-2 MIAA) nearly matched the Tigers with 20 turnovers of its own.
 
Both sides turned the ball over six times in the opening frame, leading to a low-scoring opening 10 minutes. The Tigers led by two at the end of the first, 14-12, after five first-quarter points from Katie Wagner. Fort Hays State hit 7-of-10 from the floor in the second quarter, but seven more Tiger turnovers helped UCO take a 36-32 lead into the locker room.
 
Wagner scored four points in the first 49 seconds of the second half to quickly tie the score before UCO momentarily went back in front with a pair of free throws. A Hobbs 3-pointer sparked a 15-4 Tiger run, helping the Tigers go in front by as many as 12, 54-42. Hollenbeck hit 5-of-7 from the free-throw line and added a pair of layups during the run for nine of her 12 points. Whitney Randall hit a pair of jumpers back-to-back to build the lead to six before Lauren West capped off the run with a driving layup.
 
Central Oklahoma closed within two on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers had an answer each time to maintain the lead. UCO opened the quarter on a 12-5 run to narrow the gap to 61-59. Cydney Bergmann and Katie Wagner helped the Tigers bounce back with a pair of jump shots before the Bronchos again closed within two. West had the response this time, hitting a floater in the lane to give the Tigers a two-possession advantage.
 
The visitors hit a bucket the next trip down to again draw within one score, but a pull-up jumper from Hobbs rattled in with 1:49 to go to keep the Bronchos at bay.
 
Fort Hays State sealed the game at the free-throw line, hitting 9-of-12 over the final 91 seconds to secure the win.
 
Hobbs led the Tigers with 17 points and added five assists. Four other Tiger scored in double figures, giving FHSU five players with more than 10 points for the first time this season. Hollenbeck had her first double-double of the season with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Wagner totaled 13 points and five rebounds, while West picked up 12 points and four steals. Bergmann was the final Tiger in double figures, scoring a season-high 10 points.
 
Sydney Golladay scored two points in eight minutes of action in her first game back since suffering a knee injury during the final game of the regular season last February.
 
The Tigers finished the game shooting 45.5 percent from the floor (25-of-55) while holding UCO to a shooting percentage of 37.9 percent (25-of-66). With the teams making the same number of field goals, FHSU made up the difference at the charity stripe. The Tigers hit 24-of-34 from the free-throw line, while the Bronchos managed to make 17-of-21 from the line.
 
Fort Hays State continues conference play Sunday (Dec. 19) when the Tigers host Newman beginning at 2 p.m.