Kearney, Neb. – Junior guard Carly Heim went one of two at the line with seven seconds left and junior wing Tatyana Legette had 11 fourth quarter points to help Fort Hays State edge Nebraska-Kearney, 69-67, Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

Winning in Kearney for an eighth straight time, the Tigers (22-5, 13-5) move into sole possession of third place in the MIAA standings with the Lopers (20-6, 12-6) in fourth, just ahead of Central Oklahoma and Emporia State (both 11-6). UCO and ESU play each other in Edmond on Saturday.

The game featured seven ties and 14 lead changes with UNK playing well in the first and third quarters while the Tigers had the advantage in the second and fourth quarters. The Lopers, going 8 of 20 from the three point line with Hays just 1 of 19, led 46-42 entering the final 10 minutes. However, the Tigers started the fourth on an 8-2 run and it was game on.

"On a couple of our (late drives) they were bringing four or five to the ball. They are big and it's difficult to get the ball out of traffic when we put it in a bad place.  We did that a couple of times in the fourth and then we got some decent shots at the rim but we didn't finish them," said Loper head coach Carrie Eighmey.

Legette, averaging a team-best 13.4 points on the season, converted back-to-back three point plays to give Hays a 62-57 lead with 2:13 to play. The lead grew to seven, 66-59, with 43 seconds left when UNK made a big move.

The Lopers got a three point play from senior McKenzie Brown (G.I. Northwest), a corner three from graduate transfer Alyssa Frauendorfer (Humphrey) and another layup by Brown. Meanwhile, Hays went 3 of 6 at the line with Heim missing the second of two free throws with seven seconds left.

Brown rebounded the miss and senior Michaela Barry (Battle Creek) eventually got the ball. With the clock winding down and surrounded by three Tigers, she launched up a 28-footer from the right wing that bounced off the front of the rim.

"We were out of time outs and the goal was to attack and push and get the best shot we could. It's a game of inches," said Eighmey. "We did a good job of managing that situation."

Hays overcame its frigid three point shooting by shooting 60 percent (26 of 43) inside the arc and by being plus seven on the glass, 42-35. That rebounding work led to 17 second chance points.

"Legette played really well and bothered us. She was one of the biggest differences," said Eighmey. "Another thing that stands out is their 46 points in the paint and those 17 second chance points. Those two things there those are daggers for you, especially late. We did a good job of forcing them to take the shot we wanted but just didn't come up with the rebound."

Legette finished with a game-high 22 points on 9 of 13 field goal shooting. She also made four free throws and grabbed seven rebounds over 31 minutes. Next, six-foot sophomore guard Kacey Kennett had eight points and eight boards with 6-2 senior post Emma Stroyan (14) and Heim (13) also scoring in double digits.

UNK held its own on the glass, 19-19, in the second half and was led offensively by Brown (18) and Barry (17). The each made six shots and pulled down five rebounds with Barry also having three assists and two blocks. Off the bench, Lincoln post Kennedy Sander (nine points, six rebounds and two assists) and Holdrege guard Jenna Gillespie (six points, three boards and two assists) had big efforts.

On Friday, the Lopers host Southwest Baptist. The Bearcats (15-10, 7-11) are at Hays on Thursday. The weird scheduling is due to the NSAA state wrestling duals taking over the H & S Center on Saturday.