FHSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State senior Paige Lunsford was named the MIAA Women’s Basketball Co-Athlete of the Week on Monday (Jan. 18). Lunsford was instrumental in helping the No. 3 ranked Tigers to a pair of wins at home over Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma while nearly averaging a double-double for the week. She shares the honor this week with Sarafina Handy of Missouri Western.
Lunsford averaged 18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game last week while recording the first double-double of her career. She picked up the double-double in the 68-47 win over Northeastern State with 14 points and 13 rebounds while adding a team-high four assists. The 13 rebounds set a new career high for Lunsford. In a 59-56 overtime win over Central Oklahoma, she scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down five rebounds, while adding three steals and two assists. She scored a go-ahead layup for FHSU with just over a minute left in regulation after the Tigers trailed by 14 with 6:10 to go in the third quarter. She hit a pair of key free-throws under a minute remaining in overtime to help keep FHSU in front for good. This was the first time Lunsford earned the conference’s athlete of the week award in her career.
Sarafina Handy was clutch, making key baskets as the Griffon Women won on the road at Washburn and Emporia State this week, two places the program had not won since the 2003-04 season. The senior shot 58.8% from the field and 62.5% from three-point range while averaging 7.5 rebounds and 16.5 points per game. She also shot 87.5% from the free throw line. She helped keep Missouri Western undefeated on the season.