Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Six-four junior center Kate Lehman fell one block short of a triple double and Fort Hays State had 31 second chance points to defeat Nebraska-Kearney, 81-53, Saturday afternoon  in Kansas.

The Tigers (17-7, 10-7), ranked 10th in the Central Region, snap a three-game losing streak while the Lopers fall to 8-16 (4-13).

Earlier this year in Kearney, Lehman had 33 points, 13 rebounds and nine blocks. Thanks to a surge in the closing minutes, she almost equaled those numbers today; 26 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocks.

Averaging a double double on the season, Lehman's looming presence helped the Tigers hold UNK to 31.3% (21 of 67) shooting.

On the glass Lehman and her teammates out rebounded a smaller Loper team, 58-41, including a 23-13 margin on the offensive glass. UNK had a plus five margin in this area in the earlier setback to Hays.

Battling some early foul trouble, Kearney tried to battle back from a 20 point first deficit. Down 41-26 at the break, guards Laramey Lewis and Nicole Arp hit back-to-back threes to make it a 45-37 game with 16:53 to play.  

Hays responded with a 14-4 run and outscored the Lopers 36-16 the rest of the way. Shooting just 38.7% (29 of 75), the Tigers did go 21 of 29 at the line and forced 19 UNK turnovers.

Besides Lehman, seven other Tigers scored at least five points, including reserve guard Chelsea Mason (13), a Division I transfer, and Keriann Shaw (six). She also pulled down 10 rebounds.

For UNK, senior point Nicole Arp (Kearney H.S.) tallied a career-high 19 on 8 of 18 (3 of 6 threes) shooting. Scoring 12 in the first half, she also supplied four rebounds, three assists and didn't have a turnover. Her previous career-high of 18 was set last year vs. Southwest Baptist.

Off the bench, Colorado senior Sarah Hix had eight points and three rebounds with Lewis at five points, five caroms, three assists and three steals.

UNK hosts Northeastern State Wednesday night.