FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – After a close game last time out, the Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team left no doubt in Thursday’s 77-44 victory over Northeastern State (Feb. 9). The Tigers never trailed in the contest, leading by 10 or more for 33 minutes of the game. Fort Hays State jumps to 17-6 overall and 8-6 in MIAA play, while the RiverHawks drop their ninth-straight and dip to 6-16 on the year and 2-12 in the conference.
The Tigers were lights out from behind the arc for much of the game, finishing 14-for-35 (40 percent) from three-point range, their best outing in MIAA play this season. FHSU made as many three-pointers as Northeastern State made field goals, holding the RiverHawks to 28 percent from the field (14-of-50). Both teams turned the ball over 11 times while the Tigers had an enormous edge in rebounds, 56-26.
Fort Hays State didn’t score on its first two possessions, but that quickly changed with the Tigers erupting to take a 22-2 lead just over eight minutes into the game. The first quarter belonged to Carly Heim, who nearly doubled NSU’s point total herself. The sophomore drained 5-of-6 shots in the period, including a trio of three-pointers to total 14 points. Heim closed the quarter with a triple from the left wing, giving the Tigers a 28-8 advantage after 10 minutes of play.
The Tiger defense was just as strong in the second quarter, once again holding NSU to eight points on just three field goals. The RiverHawks were one-and-done on every offensive possession in the first half, grabbing zero offensive rebounds. Northeastern State scored the first four points in the frame to close the gap to 16, but an 18-2 run for the Tigers over the next six minutes ballooned the lead to 32, 46-14. Tatyana Legette scored five points in the stretch while Nikola Kacperska knocked down a pair of three-pointers just 71 seconds apart. NSU dropped in the final bucket of the half to give FHSU a 46-16 lead at the break, their largest halftime margin in an MIAA game this year.
The RiverHawk offense showed some life to begin the second half with Destiny Strange knocking down a pair of three-pointers to close within 26. The Tigers wouldn’t let the margin get any closer for the rest of the night, scoring six-straight to once again lead by 32. Later in the quarter, a layup from Jill Faxon put the Tigers in front by 37, their largest lead of the game. Fort Hays State coasted to victory over the final 10 minutes, playing with five underclassmen for much of the frame. Rachel Doll grabbed an offensive rebound in traffic and dropped in the put-back layup for the final Tiger points of the night.
Faxon led the Tigers with 15 points, knocking down 5-of-6 from the field while adding six rebounds. Heim didn’t score after the first quarter but still finished second on the team with 14 points. Kacperska added 12 points on four long-range efforts. Legette grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with six points and two assists.
Rylie Torrey led the game with 21 points for NSU, with the four other RiverHawks on the scoresheet combining for 23 points.
The Tigers will return to the floor Saturday afternoon (Feb. 11) to face off with ninth-ranked Central Oklahoma inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. First tip is set for 2 p.m.