Story by ELI BLANKINSHIP Photos by KATIE KUHLMAN Video by KYSON EVANS
Tiger Media Network
“Pay Heed, All Who Enter: Beware of ‘The Phog’” reads the banner hanging over the north end of Allen Fieldhouse; yet, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team showed no signs of fear, taking on the University of Kansas on Wednesday, playing authentic FHSU basketball from start to finish.
While the Tigers ended up falling to the Jayhawks 90-59, FHSU Head Coach Talia Kahrs was pleased with her team’s effort in the exhibition contest.
“Our kids proved that we can fight and we can battle,” Kahrs said. “I thought our effort was really good today. We got some things done on the offensive end and we got some stops on the defensive end. They’re a hard team to guard, and I thought we played overall good team defense.”
After losing three All-MIAA talents in Katie DeGarmo, Olivia Hollenbeck and Kate Dilsaver to graduation, the Tigers will lean heavily on junior guard Talexa Weeter to fill their shoes this season. After averaging 14.6 points per game off the bench last season, Weeter was the primary source of offense for the Tigers against KU, scoring 25 points on 11-21 shooting.
“I had so much adrenaline built up,” Weeter said. “I just played my game how I know how to play and it worked out.”
Last year’s FHSU single-season assist leader, Brooke Loewe, spearheaded the Tiger offense with a game-high 11 assists. She also had 12 turnovers.
“I feel like everything just picked up from last year,” Loewe said. “[Talexa] and everyone from practice have just been in the right spot at the right time. My turnovers are always something I’m focused on keeping down, while still being able to make good passes.”
Senior guard Ellie Stearns also found herself in double digits, scoring 12 points on 4-7 shooting from the field and 2-5 shooting from deep. Stearns also had a game-high 9 rebounds – an area where FHSU stayed within 10 boards of the more athletic Kansas team.
“We got outrebounded a little bit (42-35), but overall not too bad,” Kahrs said. “The freshmen caught on really well, and I think we’re getting better.”
Talexa Weeter tries to keep the ball inbounds for Fort Hays. 
Ellie Stearns moves around the court to pass the ball. 
Kaitlin Schumanm moves around the hands of her defender to keep possession of the ball. 
After getting fouled, Talexa Weeter gets help from her opponent. 
Sarah Lawless goes in for the layup. 
After driving to the basket, TiAna Davis looks out to pass the ball. 
Kaitlin Schumann goes up for the layup. 
Looking out towards her teammates, Talexa Weeter protects the ball.
Freshmen Olivia Mortensen and Kaitlin Schumann both scored 7 points for the Tigers. Mortensen also had 6 rebounds.
FHSU jumped out to a fast start, building a 16-6 lead midway through the first quarter. However, 60 points in the paint from the Jayhawks and 24 FHSU turnovers proved to be too much to overcome for the Tigers.
Kansas had a pair of 20-point performers. Jaliya Davis led all scorers with 29 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while S’Mya Nichols added 20 points and had 5 assists.
Fort Hays State will open the season against Concordia-St. Paul on November 14 at the Central Region Showcase