Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior forward Traci Keyser had a double double, and Fort Hays State closed on an 18-4 run, to slip past Nebraska-Kearney, 62-50, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
 
With the win, Hays is now 18-5 (10-5) while the Lopers fall to 6-15 (3-11).
 
Already minus leading scorer Shelby Zimmerman and two others for the season, UNK was without starting post Melissa Norman due to injury. She is expected to return to the court soon.
 
The short-handed Lopers, who battled foul trouble as well today, more than hung around as junior point guard Nicole Arp (Kearney H.S.) started the game with one of her four threes. While that marked UNK's only lead of the first half, Arp's running three before the halftime buzzer sounded cut the Hays lead to three, 28-25.
 
The Tigers appeared to be in control, however, after a 14-6 run to start the second half. Six-four post Kate Lehman scored six of her 14 points during this stretch with Keyser adding five of her team-high 15.
 
Kearney came back once more, grabbing a 45-44 lead after three straight points by sophomore post Queen Ohamara (Lincoln North Star). Trenton freshman Laramey Lewis then made one of two free throws to give UNK a two-point with 8:46 to play.  
 
Besides Ohamara's production, this 15-2 Loper run featured four straight points by Lexington freshman Sydney Seberger and five straight by Arp. However, over the final eight minutes, UNK went 2 of 10 from the floor, 0 of 4 at the line and committed eight turnovers.
 
After scoring 24 points in last Saturday's 87-63 win over the Lopers, Keyser made 5 of 10 shots (3 of 7 threes) this afternoon. She also had 11 rebounds, eight coming on the defensive end. Crete native Katelyn Edwards (12) joined Lehman and Keyser as Tigers in double figures.
 
Shooting 35.3% (18 of 51) from the field, UNK was led by Arp, who scored 16 on 6 of 9 (4 of 7 threes) shooting. Just two points shy of her career high, she also had four boards and two assists.  

Also, junior guard Sarah Hix (Broomfield, Colo.) had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
 
UNK is at nationally-ranked Washburn on Thursday night.