BY TRISTAN SASSE
For the first time in eleven days, the Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team ended on the winning side. After dropping consecutive MIAA games, the Tigers faced the Tabor College Bluejays in an MIAA-NAIA matchup. Leading from start to finish, FHSU ended with a decisive 90-44 victory. Additionally, the win marked Tony Hobson’s 600th career victory.
Game Recap
The Tigers set the tone by beginning the game on a 17-0 run. Emma Stroyan led the burst with 11 points. Tabor struggled to find the bottom of the net and scored their first basket midway through the opening quarter. FHSU dominated the first quarter and led 31-5 at the end of one. Fort Hays forced the Bluejays to shoot 2-for-11 to begin the game. The Tigers also had nine offensive rebounds and forced seven turnovers in the first quarter.
FHSU extended their lead to 43-5 midway through the second quarter. The Tigers never looked back and went into halftime ahead 52-14. Fort Hays shot 52.6% from the field in the opening half, including 7-of-9 from three-point range. FHSU held the Bluejays to 25%. The Tigers also out-rebounded Tabor 27-11. FHSU also forced 10 first-half turnovers, which led to 17 points. Fort Hays’ bench added 13 points.
Stroyan led all players with 16 points. Kacey Kennett added eight points and four assists, while Gokce Aslan had six points off the bench.
For Tabor, Amber Bonham and Tristen Leiszler ended the half with six points.
Fort Hays maintained a 60-20 lead with 7:04 left in the third quarter. The Tiger bench saw playing time for the later minutes of the quarter, and FHSU went into the final period leading 76-30.
With the game out of reach, the Tigers took a 50 point lead early in the fourth quarter. Fort Hays led 86-37 with five minutes remaining. On the night, Fort Hays led by as many as 52 before cruising to a 90-44 victory.
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By the Numbers
The Tigers finished shooting 56.3% overall, while holding the Bluejays to 31%. FHSU also shot 50% on threes (8-of-16). Additionally, Fort Hays out-rebounded Tabor 45-25. The Tigers ended with 48 points in the paint, 38 bench points, 19 assists, 11 steals, 10 blocks, and forced 14 turnovers.
For the Tigers, Stroyan finished with 20 points and six rebounds. Kennett ended with 13 points and four assists, while Lindsay Shupe added 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.
For the Bluejays, Zenith Hernandez led the Bluejays with eight points and four rebounds. Annamarie Wilkin finished with seven points, while three Bluejays finished with six points each.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers (8-2) will travel to Kansas City, Missouri to take on the Rockhurst Hawks (6-3) on Saturday, December 16. Tabor (9-4) will have an extended break before hosting No. 19 Valley City State University (10-0) on Friday, December 29 in the Tabor Holiday Classic.