By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Kate Lehman scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds leading No. 4 Fort Hays State to a 59-53 win over Central Missouri in the MIAA tournament semifinals Saturday night at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. FHSU (28-2) avenges three straight MIAA tournament losses to the Jennies and advance to their first MIAA tournament finals Sunday at 3:30pm. FHSU will face Emporia State who defeated Pittsburg State 67-53 in the other semifinal.

FHSU Postgame Press Conference

Game Highlights

 

The Lady Tigers led by six at the half and were up as many as seven in the second half. UCM, who’s biggest lead with three midway through the first half, rallied to tie the game 46-46 with 5:33 to play but the Lady Tigers outscore them 13-7 the rest of the way.

FHSU shot just 28-percent from the floor and were 5-of-16 from 3-point range but hit 20-of-30 free throws. UCM hit on 34-percent but were 0-for-10 from beyond the arc and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. The Lady Tigers outrebound the Jennies by four and had 24 offensive rebounds resulting in 18 points.

Lehman hit 12-of-20 free throws and blocked five shots to become the first women’s basketball player in NCAA II history to score over 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and block over 500 shots.

Chelsea Mason hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 while Nicola Kacperska added 12. Keriann Shaw grabbed 12 rebounds.