By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
A dominating stretch over the final five minutes of the second quarter and the majority of the third frame helped the eighth-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team power past Northwest Missouri State Saturday (Jan. 26), 91-63. The Tigers improve to 18-1 overall and remain in first place in the MIAA at 9-1, while the Bearcats dip to 7-11 on the year and 3-6 in league action.
The Tigers were able to withstand an early three-point barrage by the Bearcats, who hit five of their first eight from deep, by countering with a shooting percentage of 71.4 percent in the opening quarter (10-of-14). Northwest Missouri led by as many as four midway through the frame, but an old-fashioned three-pointer from Kacey Kennett and a conventional triple from Lanie Page ensured the Tigers would not trail again all afternoon. Carly Heim knocked down another long-ranger for the Tigers late in the frame, putting FHSU in front by five, 28- 23.
Northwest kept the score within four by the midway point of the second quarter, but a stellar 31-6 run over the next 12 minutes gave the Tigers an insurmountable lead. The Tiger defense set the tone, forcing seven turnovers and holding the Bearcats to just two field goals (2-of-11) over that stretch spanning halftime. A key 90-second stretch early in the third frame featured triples on three-straight possessions, including two from Page and one from Kennett. The Bearcats finally scored their first points of the second half with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter, ending a 21-0 run for the Tigers, just short of their longest run of the season (22-0 vs Bethany, 12/30/18).
A three-pointer from Whitney Randall late in the fourth quarter put the Tigers in front by 31, 89-58, their largest lead of the afternoon.
After heading into the locker room shooting a blistering 64.3 percent from the floor (18-of-28), the Tigers wrapped up the contest just off their season-high shooting percentage of 51.8 percent (Central Oklahoma, 1/12/19), finishing 51.6 percent from the floor (32-of-62). Fort Hays State dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Bearcats 39-22 while allowing just five NWMSU offensive rebounds. The Tigers turned the ball over just six times, their fewest against an MIAA opponent this season.
Five Tigers scored in double figures for the fourth time this season, led by Page’s 20-point outing, the fifth 20-plus point performance of her career. Tatyana Legette added 16 points and 10 rebounds in her 16th career double-double, while Randall and Kennett added 14 points each. Belle Barbieri added 10 points while dishing out a career-high three rebounds.
The Tigers will have a full week to prepare for their next contest when they travel north to take on Nebraska-Kearney next Saturday (Feb. 2) at 2 p.m