FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State began conference play with a hard-fought victory over rival Central Missouri, knocking off the 21st ranked Jennies, 76-75, in overtime on Thursday evening.
The Tigers (6-1, 1-0 MIAA) have now won five straight on the year and snapped a three-game losing streak to UCM. FHSU has won four straight at home against the Jennies, dating back to the 2010-11 season. The win was FHSU’s 16th all-time versus a ranked opponent, and the seventh ranked win for head coach Tony Hobson at the school.
On a night that FHSU hit just 60.9 percent (14-of-23) of its attempts from the charity stripe, the team hit 10 three-pointers while shooting 38.8 percent from the field (26-of-17) to overcome its free throw struggles. FHSU forced 13 UCM turnovers, coming up with seven steals against the Jennies, who shot 43.9 percent on field goals (29-of-66).
UCM’s largest lead of the night came midway through the first half, when a layup from Shelby Winkelmann made it 20-15 in the Jennies’ favor with 9:42 remaining. The teams traded baskets for the next five minutes, when back-to-back three-pointers from Nikola Kacperska (5:02) and Chelsea Mason (3:50) were part of an 8-0 run by FHSU, that gave the Tigers their first lead since the 13:22 mark. A layup from Kate Lehman closed the run at 3:12 with FHSU leading, 3:12. Later on, free throws from Justine Prairie Chief pulled UCM back even as the half ended, 30-30.
Out of the break, the teams traded leads over five-minute spans. UCM took a five-point lead (40-35) near the 16-minute mark, but FHSU climbed back to take a three-point lead (48-45) just five minutes later at 11:30. From there, UCM again went ahead five (60-55) at 7:76 before the Tigers answered on a 6-0 run, going ahead 61-60 with 6:06 on the clock. Inside one minute to play, FHSU trailed UCM by two (63-61), but two free throws over the final 49 seconds by Lehman tied it, 63-63, and sent the game to overtime.
After 40 minutes of play left the squads tied at 63-all, FHSU started the overtime period on a 7-2 run, giving the team much needed breathing room in the extra period. Inside two minutes to play, UCM’s Winkelmann hit an 18-footer to cut the lead to three (70-67), but a floater in the lane by Kacperska set the Tigers back up by five. Still, UCM would not go away, climbing back to within one (72-71) with 22 seconds on the clock.
After a foul on the far end, Bohuslavsky sank both free throws for FHSU, but a foul call on FHSU sent Winkelmann to the line, where she matched Bohuslavky’s effort with 15 seconds to go (74-73). On the ensuing play, Kacperska was fouled after retrieving the inbound pass with eight seconds remaining. Her first free throw of the game hit the front of the rim before deflecting through the net, and though her second made free throw proved less dramatic, it put Fort Hays State ahead three (76-73). Prairie Chief found the net on a layup with one second to go, but the Tigers hung on for the one-point victory.
Lehman surpassed 400 career blocks on the night, tallying eight swats while moving into fifth all-time in NCAA Division II. She picked up career double-double No. 40 as well on the night, leading the team with 11 rebounds while adding 19 points – just missing her fifth 20-plus scoring effort of the year.
Mason’s 20 points was a team-high as the junior hit six three-pointers on the night. Beth Bohuslavsky (14 points) and Kacperska (13 points) both had five assists while joining Mason and Lehman in double-digits. Bohuslavsky moved closer to career assist No. 200 in the game, closing the night with 198 thus far in a three-year span.
The Tigers return to the court on Saturday, Dec. 6 with an MIAA matchup against Missouri Western. Game time at Gross Memorial Coliseum is 2 p.m.