By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS - Destinee Bursch hit a baseline jumper as time expired to lift No. 15 Minnesota State past the third-ranked Fort Hays State women 65-63 Friday evening at Gross Memorial Coliseum ending the Tigers 61-game home court non-conference winning streak.
The game that featured nine ties and five lead changes. Jessie Sallach tied it up 63-63 on a Jessie Sallach 15-footer from the right wing with 3.4 seconds to play but the Mavericks scored on the last possession to avenge their first-round NCAA Tournament loss to the Tigers last season.
It's the first time the Tigers have lost on a buzzer-beater since November 22, 2008 at Nebraska-Kearney on a Jade Meads last second shot.
Minnesota State (2-0) used an 11-1 first quarter run to build an early seven point lead. A 12-2 run in the second quarter pushed their lead to 10 with a little over a minute to play in the first half. The built a couple of 10-point leads early in the third before the Tigers responded with an 18-2 run to go up six with 3:50 to play in the third.
Minnesota State bounced back with the next two baskets to close within one before each team scored in the final minute of the third period, giving the Tigers a slim 47-46 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Neither team led by more than one possession in the fourth. Fort Hays State led by three early in the fourth following a Sallach layup before a big corner 3-pointer from Megan Earney gave the Tigers another three-point advantage with less than two minutes to play. But the Mavericks answered back each time, including a game-tying 3-pointer mere seconds after Earney's make.
Katie Wagner recorded her NCAA Divison II leading fourth double-double with 17 and 11 rebounds. Sallach added a season-high 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting. Freshman Ellie Stearns hit three 3s and score nine. Fellow freshman Brooke Loewe dished out seven assists.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will wrap up the weekend against Colorado Mesa Saturday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m.