FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State outscored Pittsburg State 22-7 in the second quarter leading to a 20-point halftime lead and eventual 20-point win on Saturday (Jan. 2) in the first game back from holiday break. The No. 1 ranked Tigers won by a score of 77-57, improving to 11-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA while Pittsburg State moved to 10-3 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA.
After leading 19-14 following the first quarter, FHSU went on a 10-0 run to open the second quarter to build a 29-14 lead. The Tigers went on another 8-0 burst later in the quarter to build a 23-point lead before a Pittsburg State 3-point field goal cut the lead back to 20 at halftime, 41-21.
The closest Pittsburg State came in the second half was 14 points with 7:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. FHSU pushed its lead to 23 two more times before the final margin rested at 20.
Chelsea Mason led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field and a 3-of-4 effort at the free-throw line. Jill Faxon added 13 points while leading the team in rebounds with seven. Beth Bohuslavsky added 10 points. Nikola Kacperska led the Tigers in assists with four.
Cathy Brugman led Pittsburg State with 17 points, going 7-of-11 from the field and she hit all three of her 3-point field goal attempts. Hadyn Herlocker added 11 points and six assists.
FHSU shot 47.5 percent overall while limiting PSU to just 38.3 percent shooting. FHSU forced 18 turnovers out of PSU while committing just six.
Fort Hays State now hosts Missouri Southern (9-4, 3-4 MIAA) on Monday night (Jan. 4). Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.