Box Score | Season Stats
HAYS, Kan. – The 11th-ranked Lady Blues allowed a season-high 11 three-point field goals and fell 68-59 at Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon. The loss was Washburn's first against Fort Hays State since 1994, snapping a streak of 16 straight wins for the Lady Blues.
Washburn (15-4, 11-4 MIAA) grabbed a brief lead at 4-3 a minute and a half into the game, but Fort Hays State (11-9, 8-8 MIAA) responded with two quick buckets to regain the lead. The Tigers led 15-12 with 13:22 to play when each team was whistled for a foul. Fort Hays State's Janel Durler was charged with an intentional foul after an elbow up high and Washburn's Naudia Campbell was issued a technical in return. After the stoppage in play and free throws for each team the lead was 16-14.
A pair of free throws from Megan Lassley tied the game at 16 with 12:30 to play, but FHSU went on a 12-0 run over the next 6:06 to take a 28-16 lead.
The Lady Blues responded with four straight threes and tied the game at 28 with 3:14 to play in the half. A 7-1 run by Fort Hays put the Tigers in front 35-29 with 1:29 remaining in the opening period. Laura Kinderknecht hit a pair from the charity stripe with 42 ticks left and the Tigers led 35-31 at the break.
A pair of baskets out of the break tied the game at 35 and Washburn had a couple of chances to grab the lead, but couldn't. The teams traded buckets before a three by Crista Bechard put FHSU back in front 40-37 with 15:49 to play in the game. That three sparked an 8-0 run to put Fort Hays State up 45-37. A Kinderknecht layup with 12:37 to play snapped the run and cut the lead to six.
After an FHSU bucket the Lady Blues got back-to-back layups from Alyssa Mullen and Dana Elliott to pull within four at 47-43 with 10:18 to play. An 8-2 run over the next four minutes pushed the FHSU lead to 10 at 55-45. A 12-4 run by the Lady Blues cut the lead to a pair at 59-57 with 1:44 to play in the game, but the Tigers answered with another three and outscored the Lady Blues 11-2 the rest of the way for the win.
Kinderknecht led Washburn with a career-high 18 points to go along with five assists. Lassley recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Mullen also had 10 boards for the Lady Blues, who were out-rebounded 52-34, and gave up 18 offensive boards to FHSU.
The Lady Blues shot 35 percent (21-of-60) from the floor and 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from beyond the arc. WU was 11-of-16 from the foul line for 68.8 percent.
The Tigers were led by a pair of players in double figures. Bechard scored 18 and Traci Keyser added 16. Kara McFarland had a game-high 11 rebounds to pace Fort Hays State.
FHSU shot 31.3 percent (21-of-67) from the floor and 39.3 percent (11-of-28) from three-point range. The Tigers were 15-of-16 from the charity stripe.
Washburn is now 11-1 against FHSU under Ron McHenry. The Lady Blues are back in action Wednesday night at Central Missouri at 5:30 p.m.
