![Fort Hays State forward Katie Wagner (23) goes up for a shot against Brooke Littrell (30) of Central Missouri in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, January 4, 2024 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Gilian Lynch)](https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704431030409.jpeg)
FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The 10th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team suffered its second defeat of the season on Thursday, losing 72-65 against 11th-ranked Central Missouri. After trailing by as many as 17 early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers (11-2, 5-2 MIAA) managed to close within four points with just under three minutes to play but could not complete the comeback.
Katie Wagner came out of the gates on fire, scoring the first seven points of the game to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the night. FHSU led for much of the first quarter before Central Missouri (10-2, 4-2 MIAA) jumped in front for the first time with 44 seconds to play in the period. Brooke Loewe responded with a 3-pointer to take back the lead before the Jennies tied things up at 18 just before the frame ended.
Central Missouri took control in the second quarter thanks to a 12-3 run that put the Jennies in front by 11 midway through the period, 34-23. Loewe and Clary Donica combined for 11 points over the final 3:24 of the first half, with Donica hitting 3-of-3 from the floor during the run and Loewe hitting both of her field goal attempts. The Jennies scored one final time with five seconds to go in the half, giving UCM a 39-34 lead at the break.
After Fort Hays State hit 42.3 percent from the floor in the first half (11-of-26), things took a turn over the final 20 minutes. The Tigers combined to hit just 24 percent of their shots (6-of-25) in the second half, while UCM hit 5-of-6 from behind the arc after halftime.
The Jennies used a 12-0 run spanning halftime to build a 15-point lead before Olivia Hollenbeck broke up the run with a stick-back layup. UCM later led by as many as 17 with 6:29 to go in the contest before Fort Hays State made its run. Over the next three minutes, Fort Hays State outscored the Jennies 16-3, closing within 67-63 with 2:54 to go in regulation.
The Tigers hit 3-of-3 from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers from Sydney Golladay, and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line during the stretch while UCM was 1-for-7 from the floor over that span. FHSU collected a rebound and had a chance to close within one possession with 2:18 to go, but a turnover followed by a Jennie 3-pointer put UCM back up by seven with less than two minutes to play.
Fort Hays State closed within five late in the game on two more free throws, but the Jennies held up just enough on defense to secure the road win.
Wagner finished the night with a game-high 24 points and 16 rebounds while also leading the team with three assists. It was the first 15-15 game for a Tiger since she put up 16 points and 16 rebounds against Lincoln last February (2/9/23).
Loewe totaled 17 points off the bench, including a pair of 3-pointers and a 7-for-8 showing at the free-throw line.
The Tigers finished the day hitting 25-of-31 from the charity stripe as a team (80.6 percent), but shot just 33.3 percent from the floor (17-of-51). FHSU had a slim advantage in rebounds, 37-33, and in steals, 9-8.
Fort Hays State will look to bounce back Saturday when Lincoln University makes its final trip to Gross Memorial Coliseum as a member of the MIAA. First tip between the Tigers and Blue Tigers is set for 2 p.m.