By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
JOPLIN, Mo. – The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team took care of business on the road once again Saturday (Feb. 9), leading wire-to-wire to defeat Missouri Southern by 15, 72-57. The Tigers (21-1, 12-1 MIAA) remain two games clear of the field in the conference standings while the Lions dip to 12-12 overall and 4-10 in league action.
Both sides struggled to get into a rhythm in the first quarter, hitting a combined 26.9 percent from the floor (7-of-26). The Tigers scored the first eight points of the game and held MSSU without a field goal until the 2:48 mark in the first quarter. The Lions closed within one late in the frame before layups from Belle Barbieri and Tatyana Legette put Fort Hays State back in front by five at the end of the first quarter, 13-8.
The second quarter turned into the Whitney Show, as sophomores Whitney Clampitt and Whitney Randall scored six points each to help the Tigers stretch their lead to nine by halftime, 31-22. Clampitt buried three-pointers on consecutive possessions early in the frame before Randall scored four points in 23 seconds to pad the lead to 10 around the five-minute mark, 25-15.
Defense again took center stage in the third quarter, with the teams knocking down just four field goals each. The Tigers were able to add to their lead, however, thanks to a 7-for-8 effort from the charity stripe.
The Tigers pulled away in the fourth quarter by hitting 62.5 percent of their shots (10-of-16). Barbieri dropped in all three of her attempts in the frame before an and-one from Legette gave the Tigers their largest lead of the afternoon, 62-42.
Barbieri finished the contest with a career-high 21 points, pouring in 8-of-10 from the floor while adding nine rebounds. Legette posted her second double-double in as many games, chipping in 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kacey Kennett also finished the game a rebound shy of a double-double (12 points, nine rebounds) while Randall also reached double figures in scoring off the bench with 10 points. Clampitt totaled nine points and contributed season-highs in assists (four) and steals (three).
Missouri Southern out-shot the Tigers in the contest, hitting 46.7 percent from the floor compared to 41.9 percent shooting for FHSU. The Tigers dominated on the boards, grabbing 40 rebounds to just 26 for MSSU. Fort Hays State also capitalized on 18 Lion turnovers, turning those miscues into 24 points off turnovers.
The Tigers will look to strengthen their grasp on the top spot in the conference when they take on Lindenwood, the second-ranked team in the league, on Thursday (Feb. 14). First tip in the Valentine’s Day clash is slated for 5:30 p.m.