By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The No. 19 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team used a stout defensive effort to cruise past Washburn Thursday evening at home (Jan. 25), 70-45. The Tigers (15-3, 9-3 MIAA) never trailed in the contest while holding the Ichabods (11-7, 6-6 MIAA) to their lowest scoring output of the season.
The Tigers raced in front by double figures before the first media timeout, outscoring the Ichabods 13-2 over the first five minutes of action. FHSU later led by as many as 15 late in the first quarter, 20-5, before Washburn scored the final seven points of the frame to close within 20-12.
The Ichabods continued to rally in the second quarter, eventually tying the score at 28 with less than 20 seconds to go before Olivia Hollenbeck gave the Tigers a two-point lead at the break with a stick-back layup just before the horn.
The second half was all Fort Hays State, however, with the Tigers outscoring the Ichabods 40-17 after halftime. The home team hit 51.7 percent from the floor after the break (15-of-29), including a 4-of-8 effort from behind the 3-point line, while Washburn managed just six field goals in the second half (6-of-25, 24 percent).
The Tiger defense was firing on all cylinders in the third quarter, limiting the Ichabods to just three points, the fewest allowed by the Tigers in a quarter this season. WU shot 1-of-11 from the floor in the period while turning the ball over six times. FHSU grabbed nearly twice as many rebounds as the visitors in the frame, 13-7.
FHSU was humming offensively at the same time, with Hollenbeck hitting both of her shots from the floor in the frame and Emma Ruddle adding seven of her 13 points in the quarter. The Tigers continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter, hitting 7-of-12 from the floor in the final frame to seal the win.
Washburn finished the game with 20 turnovers thanks to 13 Tiger steals. FHSU scored 19 points off those turnovers while scoring 16 points off 11 offensive rebounds.
Katie Wagner turned in her seventh double-double of the season and the 29th of her career, leading the team with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Ruddle added 13 points and a team-high three assists, while Hollenbeck totaled 12 points and three steals. Kate Dilsaver scored six points after knocking down both of her shot attempts from behind the arc.
Fort Hays State knocked down 39.7 percent from the floor in the win (25-of-63) while limiting the Ichabods to a shooting percentage of 33.3 percent (17-of-51). The Tigers also took advantage at the charity stripe, hitting 14-of-16 from the line.
Fort Hays State will wrap up rivalry week on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 27) when the Tigers host Emporia State beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday will be the annual pink game for the team, with the team wearing pink jerseys and fans encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. It’s also Senior Citizen Day at the Coliseum, with individuals 55 and older getting in for just $5.