Kearney, Neb. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team comes to the Health & Sports Center this Saturday riding a five-game winning streak.

The 79th meeting between the Lopers (6-14, 3-10) and Tigers starts a little after 2:00 p.m.

A nationally-ranked squad in December, Hays (17-5, 9-5)  has found its mojo again as its winning streak comes on the heels of a 2-5 stretch.

On Wednesday night at NW Missouri State, the Tigers edged the Bearcats by a single point, 54-53. Northwest had a chance to force OT but missed the third of three free throws with a second left.

Last Saturday in Kansas, the Tigers pulled away from the Lopers thanks to a 16-5 run that encompassed the end of the first half and the start of the second half. Getting 37 a combined points from reserves Traci Keyser and Tera Ingalsbe, Hays went on to win, 87-63.

Six-four sophomore post Kate Lehman blocked seven shots, and had a double double (15 points & 10 rebounds), in victory. She leads the MIAA in swats at just over four per game while leading Hays in both scoring (15.6) and rebounding (8.4).

Despite the loss, UNK had one of its best shooting days of the season, converting on 49% (26 of 53) of its field goals. That included a 17 of 25 (68%) effort in the first half.

Sophomore reserve post Queen Ohamara (Lincoln North Star) scored a career-best 14 while also pulling down five rebounds. That effort came after she had nine points and a season-best eight boards against Central Oklahoma.

Among the Loper starters, sophomore post Melissa Norman (Elk Grove, Calif.) scored 15, tying her season-best point total. She went 6 of 10 from the field and also blocked her 36th shot, ninth most in UNK history for a single season.

Next week, UNK heads to nationally-ranked Washburn (Thurs.) and Missouri Western State (Sat.).