Women’s basketball wins in OT for second game in a row

By RAEGAN NEUFELD

Tiger Media Network

A last-second 3-pointer from Nebraska-Kearney that sent Friday’s game into overtime could have deterred the Fort Hays women’s basketball team. 

Instead, the Tigers kept the momentum they’d built until that point and outscored the Lopers 13-3 in the extra period to win 74-64 for their second overtime victory in a row.

In the first 40 minutes, FHSU (22-6, 16-6) faced a nine-point deficit after the first quarter, closed the gap to four by halftime and then took a seven-point lead going into the fourth. However, UNK (18-10, 12-10) had their best quarter of the game, outscoring the Tigers 25-18 to finish regulation in a 61-61 tie.

“I think we played really good defense up until the shot going in. We made (Meg Burns) hit a tough shot,” junior Katie Wager said. “That carried over into overtime. We were kind of mad, so we were like, ‘alright, we’re winning this game.’”

The Tigers controlled the game on both sides of the ball in the extra five minutes, making 4-6 field goals and holding the Lopers to just 1-8. 

Wagner led all scorers with 26 points, followed by senior Olivia Hollenbeck, who had 18. Both players pulled down six rebounds. Senior Jessie Sallach also scored in double figures with 12 points, going 2-2 from the 3-point line. 

UNK was led by Shiloh McCool and Meg Burns who each had 17 points. McCool also recorded 17 rebounds, leading the Lopers. UNK outrebounded the Tigers 50-35. The third Loper to score in double figures was Brinly Christensen with 11 points.

“These are the games you want to play in,” Hollenbeck said. “End of season and all the stuff’s on the line. They’re more fun than the other games.”

The game was a testament to the competitive nature of the series between the two teams in recent years. Going back to Dec. 2019, neither team has won more than two games in a row against the other. 

“We know each other’s tendencies super well,” FHSU Head Coach Talia Kahrs said. “We know each other’s offenses even a little bit so it’s a game that’s difficult. You have to execute even if they know what your play is and figure out how to score on it.”

The victory, and the two last week against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern, moved the Tigers up in conference standings where they finished in a three-way tie for second place with Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern. FHSU will be the no. 3 seed in this week’s MIAA tournament after the tie-breaker scenarios.

“We finished the season so well,” Kahrs said. “We’ve struggled with that in the years past, with just finishing and ending the season well. We’ve done a great job of staying focused, staying engaged and getting better late in the year.”

Hollenbeck shared a similar sentiment following Friday’s game.

“I think we’re playing our best basketball right now, which is not what everyone can say at the end of the season,” she said. “The season’s long and it’s a grind, and we definitely have had ups and downs all season. To be playing this good right now is definitely a blessing, and I think it’ll carry over to next week in Kansas City.”

FHSU will play No. 6 Central Missouri at 2:15 pm on Friday in Kansas City at Municipal Auditorium. Full tournament info can be found on the MIAA Madness website.