Box Score HAYS, Kan. - The Northwest Missouri State women''s basketball team fell to the Fort Hays State Tigers in a double overtime thriller on Saturday, 79-69, at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Northwest is now 3-7 overall and 0-3 in MIAA play. Fort Hays improved to 8-1 on the season and 2-1 in the MIAA.

Aerial Easton played a game-high 47 minutes and scored 20 points to lead the Bearcats. She also had seven rebounds and two steals. Ashleigh Nelson had 15 points and Monique Stevens had 13 points. Shelby Mustain recorded her first career double-double, securing 10 rebounds to go along with 10 points.

The Northwest defense held Hays to just 39.7 percent shooting (31-for-78). The game featured 14 lead changes and the score was tied 11 times.

Northwest had a two-point lead, 57-55, with 2:06 left in regulation but a Fort Hays jumper with 30 seconds remaining sent the game into extra time. In the first extra session, the lead would change hands six times, eventually ending in a 65-65 tie. FHSU had an opportunity to win in with a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining but the Tigers'' Beth Bohuslavsky missed the first shot but tied it up with the second. Northwest was unable to find its offense in the second overtime, being outscored 14-4.

The Bearcats will return to action on Jan. 4, against Central Oklahoma at 1:30 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.