HAYS, Kan. --- The Washburn women's basketball dropped a hard luck 67-64 overtime loss to Fort Hays State in its MIAA opener Wednesday. With the result the Ichabods see the end of a four-game win streak and slide to 6-3 on the year. This is the first time since the Nov. 26 1993-94 that Washburn and FHSU played and overtime game and the fifth time in the history of the series.
 
Despite converting over 50 percent of its attempts from the floor in the second half including 63.6 percent in the fourth the Ichabods saw an 11-point lead slip away early in the fourth thanks to a Tigers (7-2, 1-2 MIAA) 13-2 run to tie the game at 47 with about eight minutes to play.
 
Control of the game then alternated hands as neither team lead by more than three and played to five of the night's nine ties.
 
As the clock crept inside the final two minutes Washburn trailed 55-52 until an Erin Dohnalek three-pointer and layup by Felisha Gibbs bumped the Ichabods to 57-55 with 1:05 remaining. The lead was short-lived as FHSU scored the next three points as it took a slim 58-57 lead with 23 ticks left on the clock.
 
With eight seconds left in regulation, Erika Lane was then sent to the line where she converted 1 of 2 attempts knotting the game at 58. The Tigers tried a last attempt but it was no good as time expired.
 
In the extra frame Fort Hays State grabbed control early behind a 7-0 spurt pushing the score to 65-58.  Lane and Gibbs then combined for the next four points to help Ichabods get within three with 2:10 to play.
 
Down the stretch the sides traded free throw attempts allowing Lane to trim the Tigers' advantage to 66-64 with 28 seconds. The Washburn rally was then snuffed out as another FHSU free throw bumped the margin to three with 12 seconds as the last ditch effort by the Ichabods was no good as the final buzzer sounded.
 
After trailing 15-10 in the opening period the Ichabods claimed a 28-25 at the break. During the middle two frames Washburn stunted the Tiger attack as it held them toa combined 3 of 31 shooting for nine percent.
 
Individually,  Washburn had four players with double-figure points with Jharian Bowen leading the lineup with 17. Lane followed with 12 points and distributed game-high seven assists as Gibbs and Alyxis Bowens had 10 apiece. Gibbs, Lane and Bowen also shared a team-high seven boards each. Reagan Phelan chipped in with five points, five assists and three steals.
 
The Ichabods return to the road on Saturday when they take on conference foe Nebraska-Kearney at 5:30 p.m.