By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Despite trailing Upper Iowa in shooting percentage on the night, the 12th-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team used 16 steals and 29 offensive rebounds to cruise past the Peacocks Saturday evening (Nov. 10), 69-36. The 29 offensive rebounds were the most in a game against an NCAA DII opponent in more than 10 years (29 vs. Missouri Western, 2/16/08). Fort Hays State is now 2-0 to start the year while UIU leaves town with an 0-2 mark.
The Tigers never trailed for the second night in a row, taking the lead for good when Belle Barbieri dropped in the first bucket more than two minutes into the contest. The teams continued to struggle from the floor all quarter, combining to hit just 22.6 percent from the floor, with Upper Iowa tallying just one field goal. Two 3-pointers from Lanie Page helped the Tigers build the lead to nine by the end of the quarter, 16-7.
Fort Hays State continued to control the ball in the second quarter, grabbing seven offensive rebounds and making five steals in the frame. By halftime the Tigers had attempted 44 shots to 16 for UIU. Page hit two more triples to record a team-high 12 points before the break, while Tatyana Legette finished 3-for-3 with eight points and two steals in the opening 20 minutes.
The third quarter quickly became the Whitney Randall show, with the sophomore scoring all of her career-high 14 points in less than nine minutes of action. Randall found gaps in the Peacock defense all period, slashing to the bucket for layup after layup. She finished 6-for-7 from the floor in the quarter and added a pair of free throws in and-one situations. Four of her six buckets were assisted, including one perfect pass through the lane from the elbow from Taylor Rolfs. After the Alva, Okla. native singlehandedly outscored UIU in the quarter, Fort Hays State led 57-26 with one frame to play.
After shooting just 16.7 percent from behind the arc in the first three quarters, the Tigers found their stroke in the final period. A pair of triples from Rolfs and one from Whitney Clampitt early in the quarter helped the Tigers knock down 42.9 percent from deep (3-of-7), allowing them pull in front by as many as 41 midway through the frame, 69-28. FHSU did not score in the final 5:09, but the Tigers did plenty over the first 35 minutes to secure the win.
Page finished with 17 points, including a career-best five 3-pointers. Page and Randall were joined in double figures by Rolfs (13 points) and Legette (11). Legette and Barbieri grabbed eight rebounds apiece, while Rolfs dished out a team-best three assists. Four Tigers swiped three steals, including Legette, Page, Heim and Clampitt.
The Peacocks ended the game with a slight edge in shooting percentage, 30.6-30.4, but the Tigers held an incredible 53-34 advantage in rebounds and made just 10 turnovers compared to 24 from UIU. Fort Hays State outscored the Peacocks in second chance opportunities, 29-2, and off turnovers, 29-8.
Fort Hays State will take 10 days off before returning to action on Tuesday, November 20 on the road against Newman. Opening tip in the women’s and men’s doubleheader is set for 5:30 p.m.