By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
JOPLIN, Mo. – The No. 15 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team came up short Thursday evening (Jan. 11) against Missouri Southern, losing 67-58. The Tigers (12-3, 6-3 MIAA) dropped their first game away from home after entering the game as one of 10 teams in Division II without such a loss, while the Lions (10-4, 6-2 MIAA) extended their MIAA-best winning streak to seven games.
The teams went back-and-forth in the first quarter, trading buckets for much of the frame. Katie Wagnerscored seven points late in the first half, helping the Tigers to a 9-2 run and giving the visitors a 13-9 lead. MSSU fought back to tie things at 13 before Olivia Hollenbeck ended the frame with a bucket to give the Tigers a 15-13 lead.
The Lions tied the score again at 18 before Wagner banked in a 3-pointer early in the second quarter. Missouri Southern then held the Tigers scoreless for the next nine-plus minutes of game action, going on a 22-0 run to take a commanding 40-21 lead. The Tigers missed 10-consecutive shots and turned the ball over four times while the Lions hit 9-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe during the run.
Fort Hays State answered with a run in the fourth quarter, scoring 12-consecutive points highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers from Brooke Loewe and Wagner. That run helped the Tigers close within 10 points with six minutes and change remaining, but the Lions responded by scoring the next seven points to all but put the game on ice.
FHSU held Missouri Southern scoreless for the final 4:55, but the Tigers were unable to draw any closer than the final nine-point margin.
Wagner led the Tigers with 15 points thanks to a career-high three 3-pointers alongside eight rebounds and three steals. Hollenbeck added 11 points and two blocks, while Sydney Golladay scored 10 points and dished out three assists. Loewe scored eight points off the bench and distributed a team-best four assists.
Missouri Southern hit 50 percent from the floor (30-of-60) while the Tigers countered with a shooting percentage of 37.5 percent (21-of-56). However, Fort Hays State hit five more 3-pointers than the Lions, 8-3.
Fort Hays State will wrap up the weekend Saturday (Jan. 13) with a top-25 battle against No. 20 Pittsburg State. Tip in Pittsburg, Kan. is slated for 1:30 p.m.