The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team played to a second-straight one-point decision Saturday afternoon (Jan. 28), this time coming out on top against Northwest Missouri State, 50-49. The Tigers (16-7, 11-4 MIAA) built a double-digit lead in the first half and held off down the stretch to defeat the Bearcats (10-10, 5-9 MIAA) for a ninth-consecutive time overall and a 12th-straight time at home.
The Tiger defense took care of business in the first quarter, limiting the Bearcats to two field goals while creating six turnovers. FHSU answered an early NWMSU 3-pointer with a 16-3 run over the final nine minutes of the quarter, including 10-consecutive points following a 6-6 tie to lead by 10.
Fort Hays State pushed the lead to 13 in the second quarter before Northwest buried back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to close within four. Katie Wagner answered with six straight points spanning halftime to push the lead back to 10.
The visitors rallied within two in the third quarter before closing within one three different times in the final frame, but FHSU had an answer each time. Clary Donica and Ellie Stearns both knocked down clutch 3-pointers to push the Tiger lead back to two possessions and Wagner knocked down 5-of-6 at the free-throw line in the final minute to help the Tigers stay on top. The Bearcats finished the game with a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it a one-point game.
Wagner led all scorers with 19 points while poking away three steals. Jessie Sallach led the Tigers with eight rebounds while adding 10 points and two assists. Stearns tallied 10 points on a pair of 3-pointers off the bench, while Sydney Golladay led the team with three assists. Caely Kesten led the Bearcats with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arc.
The teams were evenly matched on the stats sheet, with both shooting just over 31 percent from the floor, both grabbing 41 rebounds and both distributing 10 assists. The Bearcats hung around thanks to 10 made 3-pointers, while FHSU connected just three times from behind the arc.
Next up for the Tigers is a trip to Wichita, Kan. to take on Newman on Thursday (Feb. 2), with the opening tip slated for 5:30 p.m. The Tigers have two more home games remaining on the schedule, with FHSU hosting Lincoln on Thursday, February 9 at 5:30 p.m. and No. 7 Central Missouri on Saturday, February 11 at 2 p.m.