FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team fought off a pesky Nebraska-Kearney team to clinch its sixth consecutive 20-win season on Senior Night Tuesday evening (Feb. 21), 64-53.
The Tigers move to 20-7 on the year and 11-7 in the MIAA. A four-game winning streak came to an end for the Lopers Tuesday, with UNK dipping to 11-15 overall and 7-11 in the league. It was the 14th-straight win against the Lopers for FHSU.
Both teams struggled out of the gate, combining to hit just seven field goals in the first quarter. The Tigers missed seven-straight shots in the heart of the quarter, allowing UNK to score nine in a row to take a 13-5 lead. Tatyana Legette hit a pull-up jumper to end the streak to narrow the deficit to 13-7 after 10 minutes of play. Seven points are tied for the fewest in a quarter for the Tigers this season.
The Tigers closed within one in the second quarter after holding UNK without a point for nearly five minutes. A three-pointer from Madison Mittie gave the Tigers their first lead since 2-0 with 3:40 to play before halftime, 18-17. UNK jumped back in front for the final time with a three-pointer less than a minute later. The Tigers took the lead right back on an Emma Stroyan jumper before the Lopers tied things up at 23 at the break.
Neither side hit a field goal for over four minutes to start the third quarter before Legette dropped in a layup to break the tie. The teams traded blows for the rest of the quarter, with FHSU leading by as many as five and the Lopers rallying to tie things up four times in the period. A layup-and-one from Legette with 11 seconds left gave Fort Hays State the lead for good, making the score 41-38 with one-quarter to play.
Fort Hays State extended the lead to nine after scoring six straight to start the fourth period. The Tigers maintained steady pressure for the entirety of the final frame, knocking down 66.7 percent from the floor and 3-of-4 from behind the arc.
The four Tiger seniors combined for 23 points in their final regular season home game, led by 12 points from Nikola Kacperska. Jill Faxon chipped in seven points with Taylor Chandler adding four. Sarah Pimentel finished second on the team with six rebounds, adding one block and one steal.
The Tigers rebounded from the rocky start to finish a respectable 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the floor, holding the Lopers to just 28.3 percent on the day (17-of-60). FHSU made just nine turnovers in the game.
Fort Hays State will wrap up the regular season Thursday evening against Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m. The Tigers will play at least one more game inside Gross Memorial Coliseum as they will host a first-round game in the MIAA Tournament next Tuesday, February 28.