By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team came up just short Saturday (Jan. 2) against No. 11 Emporia State (3-1, 3-1 MIAA), falling 62-61 inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers (5-1, 5-1 MIAA) had a shot to take the lead just before the buzzer, but Whitney Randall’s jumper from the free-throw line rattled in and out as the horn sounded.
The Tigers took control of the game early on, leading by as many as 12 points just four minutes, eight seconds into the first quarter. Fort Hays State hit 6-of-11 from the floor early on while forcing turnovers on five of the Lady Hornets’ first eight possessions.
Randall opened the scoring with a put-back layup before Olivia Hollenbeck scored in transition following a Cydney Bergmann steal. Randall added a fast-break layup off a dish from Jaden Hobbs before Bergmann dropped in a layup through contact and added the ensuing free throw. Hobbs extended the Tiger lead to double figures with a 3-pointer in transition, forcing Emporia State to call a timeout. Hollenbeck wrapped up the run with another layup off a turnover, pushing the Tigers in front 14-2.
Emporia State battled back within five by the end of the first quarter thanks to a pair of 3-pointers. The Lady Hornets continued their scoring run into the second quarter, ultimately matching FHSU’s 12-0 run to tie things up at 17-17. The teams traded punches for much of the second frame before the visitors scored the final seven points of the half, taking a 33-30 lead into the break.
The Lady Hornets stretched its lead to nine points midway through the third quarter before Hobbs hit a pair of 3-pointers, helping the Tigers close within four, 46-42.
The Tigers got within two early in the final frame following a Katie Wagner layup, but multiple 3-pointers from ESU’s Tre’Zure Jobe helped the Lady Hornets build their lead back up to nine, 60-51.
Sydney Golladay sparked a big Tiger run with a jumper with 3:45 on the clock before the freshman made a steal and took it the length of the floor for a layup. Randall helped the Tigers close within three, 60-57, with another fast-break layup following a Wagner steal, prompting another ESU timeout.
Wagner came up with another defensive play on the next possession, blocking a shot before Randall hit another layup to pull the Tigers within one.
Hobbs gave Fort Hays State the lead with 1:16 to go after she rattled in a jumper as the shot clock expired. Emporia State went back in front with 21 seconds on the clock after a stick-back layup from Karsen Schultz.
The Tigers’ initial attempt to take the lead was blocked out of bounds by Schultz, giving FHSU an inbounds pass with 1.5 seconds remaining. Hobbs found an open Randall at the free-throw line, but the senior’s jumper hit off both sides of the iron before bouncing out of the basket.
Fort Hays State hit 39.7 percent from the floor (25-of-63) while the Lady Hornets knocked down 42.1 percent of their shots (24-of-57). ESU hit nine 3-pointers (9-of-30, 30 percent) while the Tigers managed just four shots to fall from behind the arc (4-of-19, 21.1 percent).
Hobbs hit all four of those 3-pointers for the Tigers, leading the team with 16 points alongside six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Randall added 12 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Wagner chipped in 11 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. The freshman also had five assists, two blocks and one steal. Bergmann matched Wagner with a career-best 11 rebounds alongside eight points, two assists, three steals and one block.
Hollenbeck totaled eight points, four rebounds, two blocks and one assist. Golladay contributed six points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Tigers outrebounded ESU, 41-34, but the Lady Hornets won the turnover battle, forcing 18 FHSU turnovers while making 17 of their own.
Fort Hays State will look to bounce back Thursday (Jan. 7) when the Tigers hit the road to take on Central Missouri. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.