By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The fourth-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team cruised to a convincing 25-point victory over No. 25 Lindenwood Thursday (Feb. 14) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, winning 77-52. The Tigers (22-1, 13-1 MIAA) maintain a two-game lead over second place in the MIAA standings with five games to play, while Lindenwood (16-5, 10-4 MIAA) falls into a four-way tie for third place.
The Tigers were feeling it from the floor all evening, knocking down a season-high 53.6 percent of their shots, including a blistering 65.4 percent in the second half (17-of-26). FHSU held the potent Lindenwood offense to its lowest field goal percentage of the season (31.3 percent) and its second-fewest points scored this season.
The visitors buried a pair of early three-pointers to take a four-point lead less than two minutes into the game, but the Tigers responded with a 10-point run to go in front for good. Tatyana Legette closed the margin to one after an old-fashioned three-point play before Belle Barbieri gave FHSU the lead with consecutive layups. Lanie Page finished the run by sinking a triple, putting the Tigers ahead 14-8.
After Lindenwood closed within three by the end of the first quarter, Fort Hays State tallied the first eight points of the second frame to stretch the lead to 11. Whitney Randall scored the first six of those points, dropping in a three-pointer before hitting a trio of free throws. Later, Page knocked down a running jumper before blocking the final Lion attempt of the half to allow the Tigers to go into the locker room up 11, 38-27.
Fort Hays State turned on the afterburners in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 21 after burying 9-of-12 attempts from the floor, good for an astonishing 75 percent. The Tigers continued to pour it on in the final frame, outscoring the Lions by seven to clinch the victory.
Page was one of five Tigers to score in double figures, the fifth time FHSU has accomplished that feat this season. The Wamego junior tallied 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting while knocking down 5-of-6 from the line. Taylor Rolfs and Legette added 12 points each while Barbieri and Randall chipped in 10 points apiece. The Tigers accumulated nine blocks on the defensive end, including a career-high five from Page and three from Legette.
The Tigers will look to move to 14-0 at home Saturday (Feb. 16) when they host Lincoln beginning at 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.