By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The No. 18 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team used a swarming second-half defense to handle the Tabor Bluejays Monday evening (Dec. 11), winning 65-41. The Tigers (8-1) forced 22 turnovers in the game, including 14 in the second half, thanks to a season-high 14 steals.
The lead changed hands four times early on as both teams hit 5-of-12 from the floor in the opening quarter. Tabor led by as many as five midway through the opening frame before Emma Ruddle rattled off seven-consecutive points, scoring on three of four possessions while adding a block on the defensive end.
Tabor tied the score at 13 to close out the first quarter, but a layup from Jessie Sallach early in the second quarter gave the Tigers the lead for good. Back-to-back buckets from Clary Donica helped the FHSU lead reach double figures, 31-21, before a late 3-pointer from Megan Earney gave the Tigers a seven-point lead at the break, 36-29.
The Bluejays closed within two possessions early in the second half before Fort Hays State rattled off 12-consecutive points, holding Tabor scoreless for nearly seven minutes. Katie Wagner contributed six points during the run while both Ruddle and Ellie Stearnsknocked down 3-pointers to put FHSU up by 17, 50-33.
Fort Hays State continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter thanks to a strong 10 minutes from Donica. The graduate student racked up 13 points in the frame on 6-of-8 shooting while adding four rebounds and one steal. She finished the game with 17 points, her personal-best in a Tiger uniform, and a team-high five rebounds.
Wagner and Ruddle both added 10 points each, with Stearns, Brooke Loewe and Kate Dilsaver all distributing three assists in the win. The Tigers finished the game shooting 47.4 percent from the floor (27-of-57) while limiting Tabor to a shooting percentage of 37.2 percent (16-of-43). FHSU outrebounded the visitors by 15, 37-22, including scoring 16 second-chance points on 14 offensive rebounds.
The Tigers will return to non-conference play over the weekend when they travel to Wichita, Kan. to take on Newman beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 17).