HAYS, Ks. - The Missouri Western women's basketball team pushed #6 Fort Hays to the limit Wednesday night before falling 78-69 in overtime.  

The game saw a blow-for-blow heavyweight fight for 40 minutes, but the Tigers outscored Western 14-5 in the extra period to survive for their 24th win of the season. Connie Clarke and Brionna Budgetts combined for 36 of the Griffons' 69 points, with Budgetts scoring 17 and Clarke going for 19 points and 14 rebounds. Jaden Hobbs and Olivia Hollenbeck scored 22 and 21 respectively in a win that kept the Tigers atop the MIAA standings.

The first half saw both teams trade baskets with the Griffons taking a 29-28 lead to the locker room. Western came out of the break with an electric 3rd quarter, shooting 67% from the field and going on an 11-2 run to push their lead to as many as 9. But the Griffons would go scoreless for nearly 4 minutes of the 4th which allowed the Tigers to pounce for an 8-0 run, taking a 62-58 lead with 3 minutes remaining. Still trailing by 4 in the final minute, Western answered with a lay-up Corbyn Cunningham lay-up with 53 seconds remaining. Jordan Cunningham then nailed 2 big free throws with 18 seconds left to tie the game at 64 and force overtime.

A Budgetts 3 to start OT briefly gave the Griffons the lead back, but the Tigers outscored Western 14-2 the rest of the way to claim the victory.

Hays improves to 24-3 overall and 18-3 in The MIAA.  The Griffons fall to 20-7 overall, 14-7 in league play.  

Western will conclude the regular season on Friday at Nebraska Kearney.  Tip time is set for 5:30 pm.