Emporia State (25-4) jumped out to a nine-point lead early, but a 9-0 run by FHSU knotted the game at 15-15 with 10:39 remaining in the first half. FHSU tied the game two more times before ESU used an 11-2 run to close the first half, capped by a three-point field goal right before the buzzer. The Hornets led 30-21 at halftime. FHSU struggled to just 29 percent shooting from the field in the first half.
The Hornets extended their lead to 11 early in the second half, but the Tigers slowly chipped away with staunch second-half defense, using a 9-2 run over about six and a half minutes to cut the margin down to four. Down seven, FHSU used a 6-0 burst between the 5:29 and 3:31 marks to cut the ESU lead to one at 42-41. An ESU 3-point field goal briefly put the lead back at four, but a Kate Lehman layup and a free-throw made it one again with1:35 to play.
After a defensive stop, Nikola Kacperska came down the floor and buried a jumper from the top of the key to give FHSU its first lead of the game with 55 seconds remaining. However, Tournament MVP Kelly Moten hit a layup with 31 seconds remaining to put ESU back on top.
Jill Faxon had an open look from three-point range with about 10 seconds remaining that was off the mark and ESU got the rebound. Moten went on to hit two free-throws to push the lead to three and a Kacperska three-point attempt from deep just before the buzzer was off the mark. ESU claimed its first win over FHSU this season in three tries after FHSU won both regular season meetings.
Kacperska played her heart out on the floor for the Tigers, going the entire 40 minutes for FHSU in a game with very frantic action at times. She finished with a career-high 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, including a 2-of-6 effort beyond the three-point line, and she collected three steals. Lehman had a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds, while adding four blocked shots. Faxon finished with 11 points. Outside of those three players, FHSU’s other five to play in the game combined for 1-of-21 shooting from the field and just three points.
FHSU finished just 30.6 percent overall from the field and just 17.6 percent beyond the three-point line (3-of-17). The Tigers also had a dismal day at the free-throw line, just 5-of-12 for 41.7 percent.
ESU struggled to just 25 percent shooting in the second half after 40.7 percent in the first half. The Hornets finished 32.7 percent overall from the field and 26.3 percent beyond the three-point line. Moten was the difference maker for ESU with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, while adding five assists from her shooting guard position. She was the only Hornet in double figures.
For their efforts over three games, Kacperska and Lehman were named to the All-MIAA Tournament Team, joining Moten and Merissa Quick of Emporia State and Revonnia Howard of Central Missouri.
Oddly, all three of Fort Hays State’s losses this season have been to teams ranked No. 10 in the nation. Concordia-St. Paul, Pittsburg State, and Emporia State all held that ranking in those games this year.