PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg State never trailed Fort Hays State on Thursday night (Feb. 11), claiming the top-25 battle 79-69. It was the second-straight win for the Gorillas over a ranked team after knocking off Emporia State last week. As a result, the No. 23 ranked Gorillas pulled within a half-game of the No. 5 Tigers in the MIAA standings for second place.
Pittsburg State defeated FHSU for a seventh consecutive time on its home floor. FHSU has not won in Pittsburg since the 2008-09 season. The Gorillas did it with hot shooting early and limited their turnover count, committing only 12. It was the lowest turnover total for a Tiger opponent this season.
After two early ties, Pittsburg State went on a 13-2 run fueled by three 3-point field goals to take a 17-6 lead. FHSU was left playing catch-up the rest of the night and could never get over the hump.
The Tigers cut the lead to just two with the first basket of the second quarter, then pulled within three later in the second quarter. A quick 4-0 burst by FHSU at the end of the half left Pittsburg State leading by four at halftime, 39-35. However, Pittsburg State made the first two baskets of the second half and never let the Tigers closer than six points the rest of the way.
The Gorillas shot very well in the first half, going 55.6 percent from the field and 50 percent beyond the 3-point line. Their final totals cooled to 47.2 percent overall and 42.1 percent beyond the arc, but FHSU shot only 33.3 percent from the field and struggled to 58.8 percent from the free-throw line after halftime, unable to apply enough pressure to the Gorillas. FHSU finished at 39.1 percent overall and just 22.2 percent beyond the 3-point line.
Chelsea Mason led the Tiger scoring effort with 15 points while adding a team-best nine rebounds. Beth Bohuslavsky added 14 points and Jill Faxon had 13. Bohuslavsky led in assists with three.
Mikaela Burgess, reigning MIAA Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week, led the Gorilla scoring effort with 21 points, hitting four 3-point field goals. Paige Lungwitz and Hayden Herlocker each had 14 points, Cathy Brugman had 12, and Kylie Gafford added 11.
The Tigers look to bounce back when they play at Missouri Southern on Saturday (Feb. 13) at 1 pm.