HAYS, Kan. – For the first time since 2011-12, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team has lost more than one home game in a season. The 23rd-ranked Tigers nearly couldn’t overcome poor shooting and lost 77-66 to Central Oklahoma in front of 3,575 Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum.
The Tigers (17-5, 8-5 MIAA) trailed by five at halftime but quickly fell behind by 14 a little over midway through the third quarter. UCO (17-5, 8-5 MIAA) built their big lead by hitting five-straight 3-pointers, four of them by Oklahoma transfer Clary Donica.
FHSU held the Bronchos scoreless for the final 4:19 of the quarter and closed the gap to seven entering the fourth.
An 8-0 run in the fourth pulled the Tigers within 62-61 with 3:47 to play but a controversial no-foul call forced a Tiger turnover. UCO then converted on a conventional three-point play to go up four which fueled a 15-5 run to close out the game.
Poor shooting doomed the Tigers from the opening tip. FHSU held the Bronchos scoreless for over five and-a-half minutes to start the game but were only able to build a 6-0 lead.
The Tigers shot only 33-percent for the game and went 6-for-28 from beyond the arc.
UCO shot 44-percent and went 9-of-16 from beyond the arc.
