By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LAWRENCE, Kan. – A Taylor Rolfs three-pointer at the end of regulation sent Fort Hays State to overtime against Kansas Sunday afternoon (Oct. 28) in exhibition action. The Tigers fought into the extra period, leading midway through overtime before the Jayhawks closed things out on a 9-1 run to win 90-83.
The Tigers’ 83 points are the most KU has allowed in an exhibition game and are the most FHSU has ever scored against the Jayhawks (24 games, exhibition and regular season).
Fort Hays State led by as many as three in the opening quarter before the Jayhawks pulled in front by as many as seven thanks to an 8-0 run late in the quarter. The Tigers cut the lead to two after Lanie Page scored five points in the final 15 seconds of the period. The junior knocked in a pair of free throws before Carly Heim made a late steal and found Page running down the right side of the court. Page hurled the ball towards the backboard from just over the midcourt line, sinking the triple to cut the deficit to 20-18.
Page’s buzzer-beater got the momentum going for the Tigers, who opened the second quarter on an 11-5 run to go in front by four, their largest lead of the game. Heim knocked down a three-pointer on the first possession of the game after a steal by Page, putting the Tigers in front 21-20. With the game tied at 25, Kacey Kennett hit a jumper before Tatyana Legette swiped a steal and drove the length of the court for a fast break layup. Fort Hays State took the lead again at 32-29 after a triple from Hailey Walker, but the Jayhawks closed the half on a 15-4 run to take an eight-point advantage into the locker room, 44-36.
The Tigers fought back in the third quarter, rallying to tie things up late in the period before the home team scored the final four points to take a 59-55 lead into the fourth. FHSU soon trailed by nine early in the final quarter of regulation, but erased that deficit in less than two minutes thanks to eight points from Page. The Wamego, Kan. native drilled a three-pointer before dropping in a layup on the following possession to quickly trim the KU lead to four. She hit another triple less than a minute later before finding Rolfs open for a three-pointer that bounced off the rim three times before falling in, tying the score at 66 less than three minutes into the quarter.
Kansas clawed back in front after scoring the next seven points, taking a 73-66 lead with 5:25 to go. Rolfs hit her second triple of the quarter to momentarily stop the Jayhawk momentum, but KU answered with a three-pointer of its own. FHSU freshman Hailey Walker hit two clutch baskets down the stretch, nailing a long-ranger after hitting a running jumper to cut within 76-74. Belle Barbieri dropped in a contested layup to keep the deficit at two before Kansas hit one-of-two free throws with five seconds to go, giving the Tigers a chance to tie it up.
After a timeout, coach Tony Hobson‘s squad inbounded the ball in the front court. Carly Heim took the ball to the left side, clearing space for Rolfs in the right wing. Heim fed Rolfs the ball with just over one second remaining, allowing the junior enough time to fire off her third three-pointer of the quarter and tie the game at 79-79.
Rolfs came through again early in the overtime period, hitting another shot from behind the arc to give the Tigers an 82-81 lead with 3:53 to play and prompting a KU timeout. The Jayhawks came out of the huddle inspired, closing the game on a 9-1 run to avoid the upset and win 90-83.
Page led all scorers with 21 points, knocking down 7-of-15 from the field and 4-of-8 from deep. Rolfs chipped in 14, including 12 in the fourth quarter and overtime alone. Legette paced the team with 10 rebounds, with Barbieri adding 12 points and eight boards. In all, four Tigers scored in double figures while eight different players hit at least one field goal.
Austin Richardson led the Jayhawks with 17 points and 10 rebounds, with freshman Brooklyn Mitchell adding 17 points from off the bench.
Fort Hays State knocked down 40.8 percent of its shots (29-of-71), including an 11-for-32 effort from behind the arc (34.4 percent). The Jayhawks hit 45.2 percent from both the field (33-of-73) and deep (10-of-22). After hitting 8-of-8 free throws in the opening half, FHSU made just 6-of-13 down the stretch. The Tigers held a slight edge in turnovers, making 18 miscues to KU’s 19.
The Tigers will get one more tune-up game against Kansas State Thursday (Nov. 1) before opening up the regular season on November 9. First tip in Manhattan, Kan. is set for 7 p.m.