Box Score | Season Stats

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The 13th-ranked Lady Blues raced out to an early lead and held off Fort Hays State late for a 50-45 win on Saturday night at Lee Arena. Washburn returns to action on Wednesday night at home against Central Missouri. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Blues (18-3, 12-3 MIAA) jumped out to a 10-0 lead just three minutes into the game. The Tigers (15-6, 8-6 MIAA) clawed their way back with an 11-2 run to trail 12-11 with just under 13 minutes left in the opening half. Washburn was able to push the lead to eight, but a 13-6 run by FHSU cut the lead to one at 28-27 at the intermission.

The second half started much like the first with Hope Gregory scoring seven straight points to put the Lady Blues up 35-27. The lead was seven when the Tigers went on a 9-2 run to knot the game at 42-all with 4:47 remaining in the game. Gregory answered again, this time with back-to-back threes to give Washburn a six-point cushion with 3:01 to play. Fort Hays State got the lead back to three with 48 seconds to play, but Gregory hit 2-of-3 from the free throw line to give WU the five-point victory.

Gregory led the Lady Blues with a career-high 19 points, scoring 15 of Washburn's 22 second half points. She also added seven rebounds. Dayna Rodriguez finished with eight points and a career-high 15 boards. Amanda Fessenden added seven points and tied her career-high with six rebounds.

Erica Biel led three Tigers in double figures with 15. Traci Keyser added 14, while Naomi Bancroft had 11.

The Lady Blues shot 33 percent from the floor, 20-60, and were 5-of-20 from behind the three-point line. Washburn was 5-of-8 from the foul line, season-lows for both makes and attempts. Washburn held the Tigers to 26 percent from the field, 13-of-50, and 29 percent (6-of-21) from three-point range.

The Lady Blues out-rebounded FHSU 43-35 and forced 14 turnovers, while committing 17 of their own.

This is the second straight game the Lady Blues have scored 50 points and just the 14th time under Ron McHenry that Washburn has scored 50 or less. WU is now 2-1 this season and 4-10 all-timme under McHenry when scoring 50 points or less.