WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Makenzie Farmer hit a three-pointer as time expired to force overtime, but it wasn't enough as the University of Central Missouri Jennies basketball team fell to the No. 3-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers, 65-60, in the MIAA opener for both teams on Thursday, Dec. 4, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.
The Jennies (4-3, 0-1 MIAA) are scheduled to host the Nebraska Kearney Lopers (4-5, 0-1 MIAA) for Warrensburg Day on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m.
Central Missouri and Fort Hays State went toe-to-toe in the opening 20 minutes of the game, with UCM outscoring FHSU in the first quarter, 14-12, and the Tigers outpacing the Jennies in the second quarter, 15-12. Fort Hays State took a 27-26 advantage into halftime.
The Jennies built a four-point lead in the third quarter, outscoring FHSU in the stanza, 20-14, to go into the fourth quarter on top, 46-41.
Fort Hays State regained the lead in the final quarter and led 57-54 after Brooke Loewe converted two free throws with six seconds remaining.
After a Central Missouri timeout, Farmer drilled a three-pointer from the left elbow to knot the game, 57-57, and send the contest into overtime.
The Tigers shot 50 percent from the field (2-for-4) and were 4-of-6 (67 percent) at the free-throw line in the extra period, while the Jennies were just 1-of-9 from the field (11 percent), helping Fort Hays State post the 65-60 win.
Taylor Weishaar scored 13 points and tallied eight rebounds,
Cierra Smith added 12 points and five assists, Farmer and
Neely Schaaf both netted 11 points, and
Reese Schaaf snagged 11 rebounds, leading the Jennies in the game.
For the game, Central Missouri shot 31 percent from the field (20-of-64), 30 percent from three-point range (7-of-23), and were 13-of-22 at the free-throw line for 59 percent. The Jennies outrebounded the Tigers, 48-38, but struggled taking care of the basketball, committing 26 turnovers, which led to 18 FHSU points.
Talexa Weeter had 23 points to pace Fort Hays State (7-0, 1-0 MIAA) in the contest.
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