EDMOND, Okla. – After leading for close to 30 minutes, the Fort Hays State women had to rally late to force overtime then pulled away in the extra period for a 71-65 over Central Oklahoma Thursday night at Hamilton Fieldhouse. The Tigers (21-6, 12-6 MIAA) have won nine consecutive overtime games and are 11-5 in overtime games under coach Tony Hobson.
FHSU led by seven on three different occasions and were up five with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter but missed their next five shots and went scoreless over a three and-a-half minute stretch and fell behind 57-54 with 30 seconds to play.
Jaden Hobbs hit two free throws with 27 seconds to play to close the gap to 57-56. Shatoya Bryson hit two free throws for UCO (17-9, 11-7 MIAA) with 17 seconds left. Hobbs answered by banking in a deep 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds to play.
Both teams had chances to win in regulation, but a turnover from both sides and a missed 3-pointer at the buzzer from UCO forced overtime.
The Bronchos scored the first basket of the overtime but Kacey Kennett hit back-to-back 3-pointers, the second of which gave the Tigers the lead for good.
Kennett tied her season-high with 22 points. Hobbs added 14 along with six rebounds and six assists. Taylor Rolfs scored 12 and Belle Barbieri 10 points and 10 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the year.
Fort Hays State finished the game 26-of-58 from the floor (44.8 percent, including an 8-for-22 effort from deep and an 11-of-12 day at the charity stripe. The Tiger defense held the Bronchos to 36.9 percent from the floor (26-of-35, including a 30.4 shooting percentage in the fourth quarter and overtime (7-of-23). The Tigers outrebounded UCO by seven, 39-32. FHSU was able to overcome turning the ball over times, matching its season-high.
Fort Hays State now sits in a tie for fifth in the league standings with one game to go Saturday at Newman. First tip is slated for 1:30 p.m. from Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets knocked off Nebraska-Kearney Thursday.