Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Beth Bohuslavsky hitting a running layup with four seconds left in overtime to help 7th-ranked Fort Hays State slip past Nebraska-Kearney, 82-81, Saturday evening on the Buckle Court at the Health & Sports Center.
 
Hays (18-2, 12-2) has now beaten the Lopers (10-10, 6-8) by a combined 18 points in the last three games. Earlier this year in Kansas, the Tigers also won in OT, 82-75.
 
The 85th meeting between the two won't be soon forgotten as there were 21 made three pointers, 12 lead changes, eight ties and four buzzer beaters. 
 
Kearney junior point guard Alexa Hogberg nailed a three with 1:37 left in OT to make it a 80-76. Starting the day 1 of 12 from the field but finishing 4 of 5, Bohuslavsky responded with a drive to the bucket 20 seconds later.
 
Holdrege freshman guard Jenna Gillespie made one of two freebies with just over a minute left to keep the UNK lead at three. Bohuslavsky, however, again made a shot in the paint, this time with 49 seconds left.
 
With the shot clock winding down, UNK tried a post entry pass but it was stolen by Hays. The Tigers almost returned the favor at the other end of the court but guard Taylor Chandler managed to coral the loose ball before travelling and then Hays called timeout.
 
Bohuslavsky threw the inbounds pass to teammate Paige Lunsford, who then tossed the ball right back to the Seward native. She drove down the left side of the lane and converted the layup. The Lopers never got a shot off over the final few seconds.
 
"Beth is a winner. I helped recruit her (to Hays) and I have a ton of respect for her," said UNK head coach Carrie Hofstetter. "It doesn't surprise me that she was able to finish shots and make plays at the end."
 
Extra time was needed as Kansas senior Bri Starks tallied a put back bucket with two tenths of a second left in regulation, tying things at 72. UNK held leads of 68-62 and 70-68 but the veteran Tigers rallied.

FHU greatly benefited from a rare five-point possession as the Loper bench was called for a technical foul. The Tigers converted both freebies and then made a three, giving them a 69-68 lead.
 
"Down the stretch we had some turnovers and a couple shots we didn't finish. Overall, I thought we executed pretty well but we had some late defensive breakdowns," said Hofstetter. "The same thing happened in the first game; we protected the paint for three quarters. As the game drags along, players tend to worry more about leaving shooters open."
 
In the first half, Hogberg beat the first quarter buzzer with one of her four threes. Turnabout is fair play as Lunsford took an inbounds pass from Bohuslavsky and hit a three right before the second quarter buzzer sounded.
 
Having a plus five rebounding margin and shooting 48% from the field, UNK saw Hogberg tie her career-high point total (21). She was 8 of 15 from the field and 1 of 1 at the line while adding six assists in 34 minutes.
 
A balanced Kearney attack saw seven others score between six and 10 points, including Gillespie and fellow reserves Courtney Aitken (Centura H.S.) and Kennedy Sander (Lincoln Pius X H.S.).
 
Hays had four starters reach double digits, led by Lunsford (22) and forward Jill Faxon (16).
 
UNK hosts SW Baptist and Central Missouri next week.