By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 16 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to cruise past Harding Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 18), 89-48. The Tigers are now 8-2 overall, while the Lady Bisons dip to 5-4 on the year.
After hitting just 25 percent (5-of-20) of their shots in the first quarter, the Tigers hit nearly 50 percent from the floor the rest of the way to finish the game with a shooting percentage of 41.5 percent (29-of-70).
The Tiger defense performed at a high level for all 40 minutes, limiting Harding to just 26.2 percent shooting (17-of-65). It was the lowest shooting percentage for a Division II opponent in nearly two years (23.4 percent, Missouri Western, 1/18/18). Fort Hays State forced 19 turnovers, creating 17 points off turnovers.
Both teams struggled to find a rhythm in the first quarter, combining to hit just seven shots from the floor in the first 10 minutes. The Lady Bisons led 5-2 early after knocking down a trio of free throws and led as late as 10-9 before buckets from Cassidy Haufler and Cydney Bergmann gave the Tigers a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers continued to build the lead early in the second quarter, ultimately using a 19-5 run to go in front 28-15 after Taylor Rolfs knocked down a triple from the top of the key. Harding closed within nine with 2:38 to go before halftime, but the Tigers scored the final five points to take a 33-19 advantage into the locker room. Whitney Randall put Fort Hays State back in front by double digits with an old-fashioned 3-point play before Lauryn Reither dropped in a breakaway layup off a pass from Madison Mittie with less than a minute to play in the half.
Fort Hays State cooled off a bit in the third quarter, but continued to build its lead thanks to a 9-of-11 effort from the charity stripe. Lanie Page scored seven of her team-high 14 points in a three-minute stretch in the third quarter, including a 5-for-5 effort from the free-throw line. Bergmann followed with five-consecutive points for the Tigers, helping Fort Hays State to a 54-37 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Everything clicked for the Tigers in the fourth quarter, with FHSU hitting 10-of-12 from the floor, 6-of-6 from behind the arc and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line to solidify the victory. Fort Hays State outscored the Lady Bisons 35-11 in the final period, one point shy of the program record of 36 points in a quarter and matching the MIAA record for most points in a fourth quarter.
Fort Hays State did not miss a shot over the final seven minutes of play, closing the game on a 27-4 run. Rolfs opened the run with a layup and free throw following an offensive rebound before Jaden Hobbs hit back-to-back 3-pointers. Rolfs added another 3-pointer on the following possession, giving the Tigers a 12-0 run in just 94 seconds of play.
Kacey Kennett joined in on the fun with a 3-pointer on Fort Hays State’s next shot attempt before Randall and Reither both knocked down a pair of free throws.
Allison McFarren kept things going for the Tigers with a triple from the left corner, stretching the lead to 84-48. Haufler then added two points from the free-throw line before Hailey Walker finished things off with a triple from the right corner.
Fort Hays State had a significant advantage at the free throw line, knocking down 22-of-25 (88 percent) while Harding hit just 8-of-17 (47.1 percent).
The Tigers made the most of 17 offensive rebounds, tallying 19 second-chance points. Harding, meanwhile, managed just two second-chance points after 16 offensive boards. Fort Hays State had a sizeable advantage in rebounds, 53-42.
Page led the way with 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while Hobbs and Rolfs added 13 points each. Bergmann had a career day, posting career-highs with 11 points and two assists while matching her personal-best with six rebounds.
Kennett added nine points, all in the second half, alongside five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Belle Barbieri contributed all across the stat sheet, totaling eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Making her first start of the season, Randall picked up seven points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Fort Hays State defense kept Harding junior Kellie Lampo in check all afternoon, who led the team with 11 points after coming in averaging 17 points per night.
The Tigers will wrap up play in the Cruzin Classic Thursday (Dec. 19) when they battle sixth-ranked Saint Anselm College. First tip is set for 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET).