By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
18th-ranked Fort Hays State lost for the first time this season on Saturday night (Dec. 9) to Missouri Western State by a score of 61-58. The Tigers, now 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA had two double-double efforts from Katie Wagner and Olivia Hollenbeckbut could not hold on against the Griffons (6-3 overall, 2-2 in MIAA).
Both teams traded buckets throughout the first quarter of play, but FHSU held the advantage for nearly all of the opening frame and took hold of a 17-15 lead after one. After scoring the opening bucket, Wagner toted 10 of the team’s 17 points through the first 10 minutes. The Tigers established their game in the paint early on with 10 points down low throughout the first quarter as well.
The Tigers held the Griffons to just nine points in the second quarter. FHSU stretched their lead to as many as 11 points in the second period, much thanks to two 3-pointers by Wagner and Sydney Golladay, but the Griffons did not go away. Missouri Western closed the half with the momentum after scoring the final four points of the first half, all by Connie Clarke.
The Griffons shot their best right after the halftime break, shooting 60 percent from the field (9-for-15) in the third quarter. MWSU hit two 3-pointers in the third to earn their first lead of the game. The conference contest on Saturday inside Gross Memorial Coliseum consisted of seven different lead changes with three coming in the third. Wagner hauled in five of her 14 rebounds in the third quarter, while Hollenbeck grabbed two boards. The Griffons went on their largest run of the game with eight-straight unanswered points from the 9:20 mark to 6:21 left in the third.
The Griffons held a one-point advantage at 44-43 to start the final quarter. Brionna Budgetts hit the first bucket of the fourth period and then began to pour three more points on beyond the arc moments later with 6:33 left in the game. Jessie Sallach muscled her way to a bucket in the paint to make it a one-point with under four minutes to play. From there, MWSU responded with another run, this time a 6-0 spurt.
With their backs against the wall, The Tigers had to turn up their defense in order to have a chance at a late-game comeback. Ellie Stearns was fouled on a three point try and drilled all three free throws with just 0:12 seconds to play. FHSU had to foul a second later and the Griffons hit both free throws to go up by three. The Tigers took a timeout to set up the potential game-tying three to force overtime, but the shot by Megan Earneymissed by inches off the right side of the iron to seal the win for the Griffons.
Missouri Western outscored Fort Hays State by 10 (37-27) in the second half and made five second half threes.
Wagner finished the game with 28 points and 14 rebounds, while Hollenbeck had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Stearns had seven points and six rebounds.
The two teams will meet again in St. Joseph, Mo. on February 1.
Fort Hays State will return to action on Monday, December 11 in makeup game against Tabor College. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.