BY CORA TASSET
PHOTOS BY ALLIE SCHWEIZER
The Fort Hays State Women’s Basketball Team was back at GMC on February 6. The team was looking to get their winning streak back on track after a loss (67-72) against Nebraska-Kearney last week. The Tigers played the Newman Jets and won 78-58.
Fort Hays came out slow and struggled in the first quarter on both defense and offense, falling behind 17-11. The Tigers did not let the Jets continue their winning time and came out on top to finish the first half 37-30.
“A couple times defensively we lost their good shooter in transition,” Coach Tony Hobson said. “A part of our game plan was just to make sure she didn’t get any easy looks, and she got two 3s on us in a row and that was our loss in the first quarter.”
During the first half, Whitney Randall led the team with 13 points and added three rebounds and one assist. Belle Barbieri added 3-3 field goals, four rebounds, one assist, and two blocks for the Tigers.
“We knew that they would be tough and we knew their tendencies, but I think we just didn’t do great during the first quarter,” Randall said. “We knew we had to step it up in the next three quarters though, so the first quarter was just a lesson to know that we need to keep our heads up and just work harder.”
FHSU kept fighting throughout the third quarter against Newman, bringing the score to 57-46. The Tigers only allowed 12 points in the fourth quarter and defeated the Jets 78-58.
Taylor Rolfs came out on fire in the second half leaving the court with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Cydney Bergmann also put up 11 points, one rebound, two assists, and three steals on Thursday night.
“If we could win Saturday it would go a long way. We are playing a good team (Central Oklahoma) and I think we are tied with them in the conference standings right now,” Coach Hobson said. “It’s a big game for us and that is what we have to focus on right now in order to improve our rankings.”
The Fort Hays State Tigers will be playing again in Hays at Gross Memorial Coliseum on Saturday against UCO. The women tip-off at 2 p.m. and the men follow with a tip-off at 4 p.m.