HAYS, Kan. - Three members of the Lincoln women's basketball team scored in double figures and a fourth came close to a double-double, but the Blue Tigers fell to Fort Hays State, 81-68, on Thursday (Jan. 26).

Erica Gibbons led LU with 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Hunter Yoakum added 15 points and three boards while Khadijah Ellison provided 14 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists. Tyler Brown-Henderson, meanwhile, contributed nine points and nine rebounds while tallying a pair of steals.

Fort Hays State (15-4, 6-4 MIAA) jumped out to a fast start, out-scoring Lincoln (3-15, 2-9 MIAA), 22-8, in the first quarter. After trailing by 17 at halftime, the Blue Tigers heated up in the second half, scoring 21 points in the third quarter and 24 in the fourth.

After trailing by 21 late in the third quarter, Lincoln fought back to cut the FHSU lead down to 68-55 on a jumper by Gibbons with 5:40 left in the game. The teams traded buckets, and Fort Hays State used four free throws to increase its lead up to 18. Three shots at the line by the Blue Tigers and another jumper from Gibbons brought the deficit down to 13, and Ellison later drained a three to pull LU to within 12. Lincoln ultimately dropped the FHSU lead down to 11 before running out of time.

The Blue Tigers shot .500 in the second half while holding Fort Hays State to .323 shooting in the final two quarters. FHSU held an 18-20 edge in turnovers and a slight 48-45 advantage in rebounding. Defensively, Lincoln limited Fort Hays State to just five makes in 19 three-point attempts (.263).

Azaria Nave and Asia McCaskill each provided six points and four rebounds, with Nave also dishing three assists. Tempary Gunter closed out the scoring with a free throw and pulled down five rebounds while Shamirah Johnson grabbed three boards and Kailey Foster finished with one and a steal.

Lincoln will remain on the road on Saturday (Jan. 28), as the Blue Tigers travel to Kearney, Neb. to take on Nebraska Kearney at 2:00 p.m. CST.