BY CORA TASSET
PHOTO BY ALLIE SCHWEIZER
Fort Hays State Women’s basketball was looking for another MIAA win after their win earlier this week against Rogers State (100-59). The Tigers never trailed in a 67-58 victory over Northeastern State. Saturday was senior day and it was the final home game for Belle Barbieri, Kacey Kennett, Taylor Rolfs, Kyleigh Kasper, and Lanie Page.
“I thought we started the game off good and we were really focused, but as the game wore on I thought we looked tired and just relaxed too much,” Head Coach Tony Hobson said. “It was almost too easy, when the game started we jumped ahead 17-5 and we relaxed a little bit and they aren’t a team we can relax with.”
FHSU stayed on top ending the first quarter 19-7. The Tigers continued to beat the RiverHawks at the end of the first half 30-19.
“It’s been fun here at Hays; my teammates have turned into my best friends and my number one support system,” said senior forward Belle Barbieri, who finished with eight points and seven rebounds. “We have great community support and it’s incredible the amount of people that show up to watch us play and we greatly appreciate it.”
Kacey Kennett led the Tigers after the half with 11 points, and added one assist and two rebounds. Kennett finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists. Whitney Randall finished the game with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
After halftime Fort Hays continued to lead the game at the end of the third quarter 50-40.
“In the second half our defense was poor, we were getting taken to the basket like crazy and they knew exactly what to do,” Hobson said.
Jaden Hobbs finished out the game with 14 points, two steals, one block, one assist, and one rebound. Hobbs also finished 100% from the free-throw line. Cydney Bergmann ended the game against the Riverhawks with nine points, seven rebounds , two steals, and one assist. Bergmann was 100% from field goals.
“Right now we are really just focusing on going game by game right now, we just have to show up and play our best,” Barbieri said.
The Tigers will play their last two games next week before the MIAA Tournament. On February 27 they play Central Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. and on February 29 they will play at Newman University at 1:30 p.m.
