{"id":42591,"date":"2018-12-04T21:25:18","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T03:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=42591"},"modified":"2018-12-05T10:42:24","modified_gmt":"2018-12-05T16:42:24","slug":"legettes-career-high-paces-fhsu-womens-basketball-past-unk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=42591","title":{"rendered":"Legette’s career high paces FHSU women’s basketball past UNK"},"content":{"rendered":"

BY MAKENNA ALLEN
\nPHOTO BY ALLISON SCHWEIZER<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fort Hays State women\u2019s basketball team triumphed 62-53 over the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers on Tuesday. \u00a0The two teams tipped-off at 5:30 in Gross Memorial Coliseum in what was the 91st meeting between the Tigers and Lopers. \u00a0The game proved to be another close match-up, following the Tigers\u2019 69-67 victory over the Lopers last season in Kearney. \u00a0Ultimately, the game proved tighter than the nearly 10-point difference in the final score reflected. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey have good players. \u00a0Their new kids are good,\u201d Head Coach Tony Hobson said. \u00a0\u201cThey\u2019re pretty strong in the post and they\u2019re always physical. \u00a0They\u2019re going to play us tough and we knew it would be like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This close battle began early in the game as the Tigers initially pulled ahead, holding a seven-point lead over the Lopers within the game\u2019s first minutes. \u00a0However, as the Tigers cooled, the Lopers quickly closed the gap and took the lead, leaving the Tigers scoreless for two minutes. Despite the 9-1 run by the Lopers, the Tigers were able to spring back to lead a one-point 15-14 game at the end of the first quarter. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tigers rushed into the second quarter of the game, gaining momentum as Kacey Kennett put up 10 points throughout the quarter that allowed Fort Hays to extend its lead to the widest gap of the game at 14 points. \u00a0After the Lopers drilled a deep 3-point buzzer beater, the Tigers left the court at half leading the game 34-23. <\/span><\/p>\n

The 11-point lead did not last long, however, as the Tigers struggled to hold off the Lopers during the game\u2019s third quarter. \u00a0A slow, methodical effort by the Lopers allowed the team to close the score to just four points by the end of the quarter. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur third quarter was not good. \u00a0We didn\u2019t execute very well,\u201d said Hobson. \u00a0\u201cWe just got beat off the dribble too much and that\u2019s their game, attacking the basket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The difference in play between the first and third quarters and the stronger second and fourth quarters can be attributed to a change in defense that remains a mystery to Hobson.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just not sure because basically, the same people were going in and out of there so it isn\u2019t really personnelle,\u201d said Hobson. \u00a0\u201cPart of it was them (the Lopers). They were pretty smart and just went four-out and dribbled around and they\u2019ve got good enough post play that they can do some damage in there. \u00a0I\u2019m not sure why there is such a glaring difference.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the fact that Hobson believed his players should have been more rested in the game\u2019s third quarter, the Tigers ultimately surged during the fourth quarter with senior forward Tatyana Legette catching fire to put up 13-points total in the game\u2019s second half. \u00a0Legette concluded the game with 23-points towards the overall score as she came close to reaching her career record of 29-points. Legette also dominated from the free throw line, making 11 of 12 attempts over the course of the game. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to Hobson, Legette and her ability to score from underneath the basket played a large role in the team\u2019s success.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen T\u2019s playing like that, we can get by without making a bunch of outside shots,\u201d said Hobson. \u00a0\u201cWe needed her tonight because they have good post play but neither one of their five men could handle T offensively. \u00a0She was either getting a good shot or getting to the line.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hobson also emphasized the significance of Legette\u2019s strong rebounding skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe just rebounds on a different level. \u00a0She gets the first opportunity to get a rebound at every rebound because she\u2019s a foot higher than everybody. \u00a0So she gets first shot and she just has to miss it or not be there to not get them,\u201d said Hobson. <\/span><\/p>\n

The hard-fought victory allowed the Tigers to hold their lead of 55-36 in the long-standing series against the Lopers. \u00a0This match-up was also just the first of 19 conference games that the Tigers will play as they set their sights on a national championship later this season. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t go 19-0 if you don\u2019t go 1-0, especially at home,\u201d said Hobson. \u00a0\u201cWe have to protect our own floor.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The Tigers hope to extend this lead to 2-0 as they prepare for their next game, Saturday, Dec. 8, at home against Emporia State. \u00a0Tip-off is set for 2:00 in Gross Memorial Coliseum.<\/span><\/p>\n