HAYS - After having the start of their season delayed by over a week due to COVID, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team made their season opener a game to remember. The Tigers closed on a 16-4 run including ten unanswered over the final 5:21 and beat Washburn 75-69 Tuesday at Gross Coliseum.
Washburn (1-1) built their biggest lead at 65-59 with 7:52 to play but a three-point play by freshman Katie Wagner started the Tiger comeback.
Jaden Hobbs hit a three to pull the Tigers (1-0) within one at 69-68 with just under five minutes to play. The senior point guard was called for an offensive foul on the next possession and fouled out, playing only 17 minutes and scoring seven points.
Whitney Randall scored on a layup with 3:37 to play to put the Tigers ahead for good. The Alva, Oklahoma senior scored a career-high 26 points despite shooting 1-for-7 from 3-point range.
Randall scored on another layup and Cydney Bergmann hit three of four free throws to finish off the comeback.
Maize South freshman Katie Wagner scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds in her Tiger debut.
Plainville freshman Aubree Dewey and Idaho State transfer Nuria Barrientos led the Ichabods with 16 points each.
After being outrebounded in the first half, the Tigers control the boards in the second half and outscored Washburn 17-5 on second chance points after halftime.
The Tigers play their first road game Saturday at Nebraska-Kearney. The women's game tips at 2:00 pm with the men's to follow around 4:00 pm. You can hear them both on KJLS (103.3-FM).