By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Emporia State hit nine of their 18 three-point attempts including 6-of-9 in the second half and beat the Fort Hays State Lady Tigers 66-61 to win the NCAA II Central Regional championship. The Lady Hornets, playing in their fifth straight regional title game, win their 10th straight and improve to 28-4. The Lady Tigers, who won the MIAA regular season title, finish 30-4.

FHSU Postgame Press Conference

Game Highlights

Like they did in the two regular season meetings, the Lady Tigers raced out to an early lead. FHSU was up nine with 12:29 to play in the first half but ESU answered with an 11-0 run to grab the lead and were up two at the half. The Lady Hornets the outscore the Lady Tigers 17-7 over the first the first seven and-a-half minutes of the second half to go up 12 and would lead by as many as 13 before Fort Hays State pulled within five on a Jill Faxon 3-pointer with 2:43 to play.

The Lady Tigers struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 3-of-19. Both teams had 14 offensive rebounds but the Hornets outscores FHSU 17-9 on second chance points.

Kate Lehman led Fort Hays State with 27 points, five rebounds and five blocks. She finishes her career as FHSU’s all-time leading rebounder (1,109) and shot blocker (515) while finishing second in career scoring (1,917).

Emporia State was led by Kelly Moten who scored 20 along with 13 rebounds. Kathryn Flott added 13 points and 10 boards while freshman Addie Lackey scored 13.

Flott, Moten and regional Most Outstanding Player Merissa Quick were named to the all-tournament team along with Fort Hays State’s Chelsea Mason and Kate Lehman.