HAYS – The Fort Hays State Tiger women led by 12 twice in the first quarter but a late field goal lifted the Emporia State women to a 62-61 win Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.
The Tigers (5-1, 5-1 MIAA) got out to a quick start, building a 12-point lead twice in the first quarter, the final time at 17-5, with just over three minutes to play in the first quarter.
After the rough start Emporia State (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) settled in and finished the quarter and opened the second quarter on a 12-0 run tying the game at 17. After the game was tied again at 19, the Tigers scored seven straight, including a Jaden Hobbs three-pointer as the Tigers retook the 26-19 lead.
The Hornets were able to chip away at the lead and took the lead with just over one minute to play in the half before leading 33-30 at the break. Emporia State outscored the Tigers 21-13 in the second quarter.
In the third quarter the Tigers closed the gap to two points only to see the Hornets put together a 12-4 run and build their largest lead of the game at nine. They lead by four, at 48-44 through three quarters.
In the fourth quarter the Tigers cut the deficit to three with just under seven and a half minutes to play but the Hornets extended their lead to nine once again, this time with just over four and a half minutes to play.
Down 60-51 the Tigers got back-to-back field goals from Sydney Golladay that sparked a 10-0 run that gave the Tigers the lead on a Hobbs jumper with 1:11 left.
The Hornets retook the lead with just 21 second left when Karsen Schultz pulled down an offensive rebound and got the put back putting the Hornets up 62-61.
With 1.5 seconds left the Tigers got an opener jumper for Whitney Randall off an in-bounds play but it rimmed off giving the Hornets the one-point win.
Hobbs led four Tigers in double-figures with 16 points. Randall added 12 and Katie Wagner 11 points.
Tre’Zure Jobe scored a game-high 22 points.
The Tigers are set to travel to Warrensburg to take on Central Missouri on Thursday.