HAYS, Kan. – In the second game of the Tigers Classic the Regis University women's basketball team will return to Denver after a rough weekend on the road but have yet again proved that they will battle until the final whistle no matter the opponent. The Rangers took on the hosts in unbeaten Fort Hays State (4-0) dropping to the No. 10 team in the nation 59-55 and moving to an overall record of 1-3.

Both teams experienced a slow start to the game. Regis held just a 4-0 lead not allowing the Tigers to score until five minutes into the first. The scoring challenge persisted but Fort Hays found some momentum late in the first quarter going on an 11-2 run to hold a 15-8 lead heading into the second.

RU managed to keep the Tigers close throughout the first half of the second quarter but a lack of production allowed Fort Hays to slowly pull away. Regis headed into halftime down 32-21.

The Rangers opened the third quarter immediately bringing the deficit to seven, 32-25, but never seemed to be able to cut the lead any closer. RU would steadily remain within two or three possessions of evening the score throughout the remainder of the third but a burst of energy came over Regis and would carry through the fourth quarter.

Bay'lee Purdy knocked down a three-pointer and Caresse Williams followed it up with a layup bringing the Rangers within three, 51-48, with just under six to play. At the 2:29 mark, Purdy, again, hit one from distance keeping RU within one possession, 53-51. Williams brought Regis within one, 53-52, the closest since early in the game knocking down a free throw.

With under a minute to play, the Tigers made a pair of crucial free throw's taking the score to 55-52. Following an RU full timeout with 30 seconds remaining, Purdy came up big dropping yet another from beyond the arc as the score read 57-55. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Regis would have two looks from distance in an attempt to extend the game but came up short.

Three Rangers contributed double-digit points led by Purdy with 16 going 6-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from distance. Williams added 13 points and a game-leading nine rebounds. Kaylie Rader chipped in with ten points shooting 4-of-8 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from the line while pulling down eight boards. 

Regis outrebounded Fort Hays 36-31 and held the Tigers to shot just 13 percent from three while RU shot 47.5 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point land. Ultimately, the Rangers committed 20 turnovers in which Fort Hays was able to capitalize and turn into 20 points. The Tigers were also able to pull down 14 offensive boards and convert 17 into second chance points.

RU is on the road again against Western Oregon on Friday, November 27 at 1 p.m. The game will be hosted by Colorado Mines in Golden, Colo.