JOPLIN, Mo. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team fell just short Saturday (Feb. 18) against Missouri Southern, falling 61-58 on the road. The back-and-forth contest was close all afternoon, featuring 10 lead changes and five ties while neither side led by more than nine points all day.
 
The Tigers (19-10, 14-7 MIAA) fell behind by eight in the first quarter after MSSU (22-6, 14-6 MIAA) knocked down 50 percent from the floor over the first 10 minutes. Brooke Loewe and Jessie Sallach both hit jumpers early in the second quarter to close within three before the Lions pushed their advantage back to eight.
 
Fort Hays State scored the final five points of the first half to make it a one possession game at intermission, 34-31, after holding MSSU scoreless for the final three minutes of the second quarter.
 
The Tigers pushed the run to 10-0 after scoring the first five out of the locker room, taking a 36-34 lead. The lead changed hands three more times in the quarter, with the Lions up 49-48 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Kate Dilsaver hit a pair of free throws early in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers back in front, 50-49, but the Lions soon regained the lead for good.
 
Both teams cranked up the pressure on defense in the fourth quarter, with FHSU hitting 25 percent from the floor over the final 10 minutes compared to a 30 percent shooting effort from the Lions. The Tigers forced four turnovers and did not make any turnovers of their own, but the home team did just enough to hang on for the win.
 
Katie Wagner recorded her second double-double of the road trip, putting up 18 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists. Loewe scored a career-high 11 points after hitting two 3-pointers, while Olivia Hollenbeck chipped in 13 points.
 
The Tigers will wrap up the regular season next Saturday (Feb. 25) at No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney before opening the postseason in the 2023 MIAA Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals on Friday, March 3.