FHSU Athletics
DENVER - In a thrilling overtime battle on the road, the No. 12/15 ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team triumphed over Regis, 82-77, in a game packed with clutch plays and dramatic momentum shifts at the Regis Field House. Fort Hays State remained unbeaten on the season, now 6-0 overall, while Regis dropped to 2-3 following its first home contest of the season.
Olivia Hollenbeck led the Tigers with 20 points, followed by 18 from Katie DeGarmo and 14 from Talexa Weeter. Brooke Loewe posted a double-double and flirted with a triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
Regis had the upper hand early, leading by as many as five early before FHSU closed within a point, 13-12. DeGarmo was key to keeping the Tigers in striking distance with eight of the team's 12 first-quarter points. FHSU hit the first basket of the second quarter to take a brief lead, then tied the game twice early in the second quarter. Baskets by Weeter and Kate Dilsaver later in the second quarter put the Tigers up three, but Regis had a four-point burst to make the frame a stalemate and led at halftime 32-31.
The third quarter saw the intensity escalate as the Tigers jolted past the Rangers with a 13-0 run. Down by three, Hollenbeck triggered the run with a pair of free throws. Loewe followed with a layup to give the Tigers the lead. Loewe and Hollenbeck each had four points in the run, while Dilsaver had two. Bailey Wilborn capped the burst with a 3-point field goal to make it 44-34 in favor of the Tigers. However, a 3-point field goal by Regis snapped the run and it used a 17-6 run to get the lead back by one with a minute to go in the quarter. Baskets by Weeter and Loewe in the final minute gave the Tigers the lead back 54-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
FHSU led by five twice early in the fourth quarter, but could not shake Regis as the Rangers pulled back even at 58-58 with 5:52 to go in regulation. Regis took the lead back with a basket at the 4:22 mark, but Hollenbeck countered with an old-fashioned 3-point play to put the Tigers back on top. The Rangers tied the game twice more before jumping in front with a 3-point basket with 1:23 to go. Dilsaver went to the free-throw line and made one of two shots to tie the game at 69, then neither team could find a winning bucket in the final minute.
The extra period was a showcase of Fort Hays State's poise under pressure. Regis struck first with a pair of free throws. However, the Tigers surged back in front with a decisive 9-1 run. It was a group effort with baskets from Loewe, Ellie Stearns, DeGarmo, and Hollenbeck. Regis moved back within three with 38 seconds to go, but DeGarmo put the game on ice with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left.
Regis made 11 3-point field goals to help stay in the game even though FHSU made nine more field goals overall. The Rangers were near perfect at the free-throw line, going 18-of-19. Erin Fry led the Rangers with 19 points, followed by 16 from Athena Saragoza and 15 from Fiona Snashall.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State returns to action tomorrow just down the road a little more to the west in Golden, Colo., where it takes on Colorado School of Mines at 4 p.m. CT (3 p.m. MT).