BY TRISTAN SASSE
On Saturday, January 20, the Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team finished their three-game homestand against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. FHSU was firing on all cylinders throughout the afternoon and defeated the Bearcats 75-46. Fort Hays led from start to finish and improved to 10-1 at home with the victory.
Game Recap
The Tigers made five of their first six shots and took a 10-4 lead just over three minutes into the game. Midway through the quarter, FHSU extended the advantage to 19-4. Fort Hays led 25-5 after one, as the Tigers shot 61.1% and held the Bearcats to 14.3%.
FHSU maintained a significant lead throughout the second quarter. With under seven minutes left in the half, Fort Hays held a 36-9 advantage. The Tigers cooled off from the field, but the Bearcats continued to struggle as well. Northwest answered with a 6-0 run, but it was their lone highlight of the half. Ultimately, FHSU would head into halftime with a 40-15 lead.
Fort Hays shot 47.1% in the opening half while holding NWMSU to 15.4% (4-of-26 from the field and 0-11 beyond the arc). Additionally, the Tigers out-rebounded the Bearcats 26-16, had nine assists, and forced nine turnovers.
Kacey Kennett led FHSU with 10 points. Carly Heim added eight points and seven rebounds, while Emma Stroyan had seven points and four rebounds, and Tatyana Legette added six points and four rebounds. For the Bearcats, Kaylani Maiava had six points and four rebounds.
The second half was a similar story for both teams. At the 6:30 mark of the third quarter, the Tigers had a 26-point lead. With less than four minutes to go, FHSU maintained a 54-27 advantage. Entering the final period, Fort Hays built their lead to 60-31.
With the game already well out of reach, the Tigers kept the margin above 20 for the entire second half. With five minutes left, FHSU held a 71-41 advantage. At the end of the day, Fort Hays would cruise to a 75-46 win.
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By the Numbers
On the afternoon, FHSU shot 43.1%, while holding the Bearcats to 29.6%. The Tigers also had a 48-34 rebounding edge, 10 fewer turnovers, and nine more assists than NWMSU.
Kennett led all players with 14 points, four assists, and four steals. Stroyan added 13 points and six rebounds, while Legette had 13 points and five rebounds. Additionally, Heim finished with a double-double for the Tigers, with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
For Northwest Missouri State, Maiava led the Bearcats with 13 points and nine rebounds. Kylie Coleman added seven points, while Mallory McConkey and Tanya Meyer had six points each.
Looking Ahead
On Thursday, January 25, the Tigers (14-4 overall, 5-4 in MIAA) will head to Jefferson City, Missouri to take on the Lincoln Blue Tigers (3-15, 0-10). Meanwhile, next Saturday Northwest Missouri (1-17, 0-10) will be back home to take on Missouri Western (10-9, 3-7).