By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The No. 19 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team forced 32 turnovers in a 92-40 victory over Bethany College Wednesday (Dec. 11) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The 32 turnovers are the most the Tigers have forced in a game in more than six years (32, vs Bethel, 11/19/13).
Fort Hays State (7-2) never trailed in the contest, winning the opening tip and taking a quick 2-0 lead on a turnaround layup from Belle Barbieri. The Swedes answered with a bucket as the shot clock expired before Taylor Rolfs gave the Tigers the lead for good with a jumper in the lane.
The Tiger defense played at a high level from the start, allowing just four points while forcing seven turnovers over the first 10 minutes. The Swedes hit just 2-of-14 from the floor, while Fort Hays State buried 50 percent of its shots in the opening frame (9-of-18).
After scoring the final 13 points of the first quarter, the Tigers opened the second quarter with seven consecutive points to build a commanding 25-point lead, 29-4. Six different players scored for the Tigers during the run that lasted seven minutes, 48 seconds, led by Whitney Randall’s five points.
Bethany broke out of the slump by hitting three-straight shots, trimming the deficit to 22 before the Tigers scored eight points in a row. Lanie Page dropped in back-to-back layups before Kacey Kennett scored four straight for the Tigers, pushing the lead to 41-11. Cydney Bergmann added three free throws late in the quarter before Allison McFarren buried a triple with just six seconds on the clock in the first half, giving the Tigers a 47-15 advantage at halftime.
After forcing 14 turnovers in the first half, the Tigers managed to increase that total after halftime, forcing 18 turnovers over the final 20 minutes.
Twelve different Tigers combined for 20 steals in the contest, FHSU’s most in a game in more than three years (21, vs. Southwest Minnesota State, 11/12/16). Kennett, Randall and Lauryn Reither led the team with three steals each.
The Tigers were equally as impressive on the offensive end in the second half, shooting 51.6 percent from the floor after halftime (16-of-31), including a 50 percent effort from deep (5-of-10).
Kennett paced the team with 17 points after knocking down all three of her attempts from behind the arc. Randall added 16 points and six rebounds, with Barbieri chipping in 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Jaden Hobbs totaled seven points and seven assists, giving the junior four or more assists in each of the last four games. Taylor Rolfs recorded eight points and four assists, while Bergmann picked up seven points, two steals, one rebound and one assist in the victory.
The Tigers made the most of 17 offensive rebounds, scoring 20 second-chance points. The Black and Gold dominated in the paint, outscoring the Swedes 42-20. FHSU scored 47 points off the 32 Bethany turnovers.
The Tigers will wrap up non-conference play next week when they travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for the 2019 Cruzin Classic. Fort Hays State will face off with regional foe Harding on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m. before meeting up with No. 6 Saint Anselm on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 2:30 p.m.