FHSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State used an 11-0 run to open the second half and built an 18-point lead on its way to a 79-65 win over Missouri Southern on Thursday (Mar. 3) in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals. The No. 12 ranked Tigers improved to 25-4 overall, advancing to the semifinals on Saturday.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle as the lead changed 10 times before FHSU closed the second quarter on a 14-6 run build a seven-point halftime lead. Nikola Kacperska was fouled on a three-point attempt just before the end of the half and she buried all three free-throws to give FHSU a seven-point halftime lead.
The Tigers took that three-point burst at the end of the half and built on it with the 11-0 run to open the second half, giving them a 14-0 run overall going back to the first half. Missouri Southern chopped the lead down inside 10 once later in the third quarter, but FHSU led by 10 heading into the fourth quarter.
Missouri Southern cut the lead down to nine early in the fourth, but FHSU went on a 10-0 run fueled by five points each from Jill Faxon and Chelsea Mason to put the game away.
Faxon had a near double-double effort with 18 points and nine rebounds, shooting 7-of-13 from the field with two 3-point field goals. Beth Bohuslavsky was near perfect from the field, going 6-of-7 with a couple of free-throws for 14 points. She also had a team-high four assists. Kacperska and Mason each had 12 points while Taylor Chandler added 11 points. Carly Heim also had a nice game off the bench with six points and six rebounds.
Sharese Jones led Missouri Southern with 21 points and seven rebounds. Deb Holcomb added 11 points and Jenson Maydew had 10 and seven rebounds.
The Tigers shot 43.3 percent from the field while the Lions shot 44.4 percent. FHSU forced 18 turnovers out of Missouri Southern while committing 11.
The Tigers will play at noon on Saturday (Mar. 5) and face either No. 2 seed Pittsburg State or No. 10 seed Central Missouri.