By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The eighth-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team knocked down two shots from behind the arc in the opening minute of Thursday’s contest (Jan. 24) en route to a 67-50 win over Missouri Western inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers move to 17-1 overall and 8-1 in MIAA play with the win, while the Griffons fall to 9-8 on the year and 4-4 in league action.
The Tigers controlled the contest from the start, when Tatyana Legette knocked down a three-pointer just 11 seconds into the game. Kacey Kennett buried a three on the following possession before Carly Heim added a third soon after, helping the Tigers to a 3-of-4 start from behind the arc to start the game.
After a Whitney Randall layup stretched the lead to 10 in the second quarter, the Griffons answered with two quick buckets to close within two possessions. But the Tiger defense clamped down, limiting MWSU to just one field goal over the final seven minutes of the first half. FHSU went into the locker room up 13, 37-24.
Missouri Western momentarily closed within nine after scoring the first four points out of the break, but Fort Hays State pulled away once and for all thanks to an 18-2 run over the majority of the third quarter. Belle Barbieri capped off the run with a layup, giving the Tigers their largest lead of the game at 55-30. The Griffons slowly crept closer in the fourth quarter, but the damage was already done.
Randall led the team with 14 points off the bench while Page and Taylor Rolfs added 11 points each. Legette was one point shy of a double-double, tallying nine points while matching her career-high with 15 rebounds. Page, Legette and Barbieri all blocked two shots each in the win.
The Tigers controlled the boards, outrebounding MWSU 43-33. Fort Hays State took advantage of 13 offensive rebounds to the tune of 10 second-chance points, compared to just two for the Griffons.
Before hitting the road for two-straight weeks, the Tigers will take to the court inside Gross Memorial Coliseum once more on Saturday (Jan. 26) when they host Northwest Missouri State at 2 p.m.