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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Corbey R. Dorsey
74
Winner Fort Hays State FHSU 19-1, 10-1
64
Nebraska-Kearney UNKWBB 12-8, 5-6
Winner
Fort Hays State FHSU
19-1, 10-1
74
Final
64
Nebraska-Kearney UNKWBB
12-8, 5-6
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Fort Hays State FHSU 11 9 21 18 15 74
Nebraska-Kearney UNKWBB 16 17 16 10 5 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

#6 Tigers Use Big Comeback to Win in Overtime

Kearney, Neb. – The sixth-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers closed on a 49-19 run to rally past Nebraska-Kearney in overtime, 74-64, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

The Tigers improve to 19-1 (10-1) and beat the Lopers (12-8, 5-6) in OT for the third time in the last eight meetings.

UNK dominated the first 25 minutes, opening up a 45-25 lead midway through the third quarter. At this point in the game the Lopes were shooting 50 percent from the field with the Tigers firing blanks and hovering around 22 percent. However, 16 offensive rebounds and 25 Kearney turnovers gave Hays life as well as 19 more shot attempts.

A three from freshman Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) didn't drop at the 4:42 mark of the third and UNK up 20. The Tigers responded with a quick three in transition to start an epic 28-6 run. This spurt featured seven made threes; Hays finished 9 of 31 from downtown.

During this stretch, freshman guard Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, SD) was sidelined with foul trouble and sophomore guard Kelsey Sanger (Crofton) was out due to injury. Starting guard Adreon Bell (Independence, Mo.) also missed several minutes in the third due to a leg cramp but returned in the fourth.34429

"When two of your starting guards go out it changes the complexity of everything.  We were scrambling a little bit, playing some people out of position. Offensively we got out of rhythm and defensively our communication broke down. Kelsey and Klaire are our best two communicators on defense … we had some confusion and let them hit some transition threes. That got them going and gave them some confidence," said Loper head coach Carrie Eighmey.

Now down 53-51 with 5:29 left, UNK regrouped to move ahead 59-56 by the 1:12 mark thanks to a mid-range jumper by senior Jaymie Bernbeck (Garden City, Kan.). Hays senior Tatyana Legette countered with a bucket and then McCool missed two contested shots in the paint with 30 seconds left. Junior Kacey Kennett was fouled soon after but missed the second one, giving UNK a chance. A three from the left wing by freshman Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.) was just long right before the buzzer sounded.

Hays never trailed in overtime, moving ahead 66-61 by the three minute mark. The Lopers had a chance to tie things up at 66 but a McCool jumper hit iron with 56 seconds left and then the Tigers were strong at the line.

"We never let them have an easy look until that run in third. Kelsey is the backbone of our defense, has more experience than most of the other players and has a calming presence about her. She was guarding one of the players that went off late," said Eighmey.

Legette had 23 of her game-high 25 points after intermission with Kennett tallying 18 of her 20 in the second half and overtime. The duo combined to go 13 of 28 (6 of 12) from the field, 13 of 19 at the line, and provide 12 rebounds, five steals and three assists.

Hays shot just 32 percent (25 of 78) from the field and was out rebounded by a 48-43 margin. They overcame that by having 18 second chance points and 15 points off those 25 Loper miscues.

"We let Kennett have four or five open looks in the second half and she started hitting them. Early in the game those shots weren't quite that easy," said Eighmey. "Tatyana is a really good player. Every time we play them they go to her late in games because she can produce."

Making 46 percent of its field goals (27 of 48), UNK finished with four made treys and a 40-28 advantage in points in the paint. A balanced attack saw seven different players in the scoring column led by 16 from freshman post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn). Next, McCool grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and scored eight points with starting forward Maegan Holt (Council Bluffs, Ia.) at 10 points and five caroms.

UNK heads to Missouri Southern State and nationally-ranked Pittsburg State next weekend.
 
 
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