By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State continued its strong play on the road this season with a 91-62 win at Central Oklahoma on Saturday (Feb. 4). The 91 points was a season high for the Tigers, and they drained 12 3-point field goals to match a season high. Megan Earney spearheaded the effort from long range with a career-high 21 points on seven 3-point field goals made. FHSU improved to 18-7 overall, 13-4 in the MIAA, while UCO went to 7-14 overall, 4-13 in the MIAA.
The first four shots made by the Tigers were 3-pointers, three by Earney and one by Emma Ruddle, to build a 12-4 lead just over three minutes into the contest. The Tigers allowed one more bucket to the Bronchos in the opening quarter with 5:20 to go and went on a 7-0 run to end the quarter and hold a 19-7 lead.
The Tigers extended their run to 14-0 by scoring the first seven points of the second quarter, coming on back-to-back buckets by Olivia Hollenbeck and a 3-pointer by Ellie Stearns. FHSU was up 26-7 about 11 and a half minutes into the game. UCO’s scoring drought spanned 7:27 before a layup with 7:53 to go before halftime. The Bronchos got the Tiger lead back down to 14 with about five minutes to go, but the Tigers went on a 13-6 run to get their lead out to 21, 43-22, by halftime.
The Tiger lead dipped back inside 20 three times early in the third quarter before they kept a lead of 20 or more for the final 16:14 of the game. The Tigers reached their largest lead of 32 points on a Mallory Cowman free throw with 27 seconds remaining in the game.
All 12 Tigers that suited up for the game scored, led by Earney’s career-high 21. She was 7-of-11 from 3-point range. Katie Wagner finished with 14 points on a 6-of-9 effort from the field with a couple of free throws added in. Hollenbeck finished with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Both of her double-doubles this season have been against the Bronchos after a 20-point, 12-rebound effort in Hays back in December.
Ruddle scored all nine of her points on three 3-point field goals. Clary Donica was the top scorer off the bench for FHSU with eight in the return to her former home court. She added eight rebounds. FHSU shot 45.1 percent as a team from the field and outrebounded UCO by 11.
Brooke Rayner led the Bronchos with 22 points, while River Romine provided 10 off the bench. The Tigers held UCO to just 31.9 percent shooting for the game.
The Tigers return to Hays for their final two regular season home games next week. FHSU hosts Lincoln on Thursday night (Feb. 9) before facing Central Missouri on Saturday (Feb. 11).