Box Score

The Fort Hays State women's basketball team led wire-to-wire to knock of Northwest Missouri State 65-45 Saturday afternoon (Dec. 17) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The win was the third in a row for the Lady Tigers and improves them to 10-1 (3-1 MIAA) on the year.
 
Traci Keyser got FHSU going early on, putting in five of the team's first seven points as they built an early 7-2 advantage. Northwest Missouri State cut the lead to three on two occasions before the Lady Tigers began to roll. Crista Bechard knocked down a 3-pointer that started a 7-0 run which put FHSU up 16-6 with 14:14 to play. Melissa Nelson came off the bench to hit three 3-pointers and score 10 points in the first half and FHSU went to the locker room with a 35-21 lead.
 
Fort Hays State maintained at least a 10-point advantage throughout the second half, stretching it to a high of 24 at 63-39 following a pair of Kelsie Sorenson free throws with 4:39 to play. Northwest would add on a couple of baskets to post the final margin of 65-45.
 
Katelyn Edwards recorded her fourth double-double of the season to lead the Lady Tigers with 17 points and 16 rebounds. She also tied a season-high with four assists for the second consecutive game. Nelson chipped in 16 off the bench while Keyser finished with 12. Janel Durler pulled down a season-high nine rebounds for FHSU, who outrebounded the Bearcats 56-38.
 
No player for Northwest Missouri State reached double figures in scoring, with Maggie Marnin leading the team with nine points. Annie Mathews had eight rebounds for the Bearcats, while Abby Henry and Ashleigh Nelson each had three assists. The Bearcats fall to 2-9 on the season and they are still looking for their first conference win.
 
The 10-1 start for Fort Hays State is the best for the Lady Tigers since the 1990-91 team started 14-1 on their way to winning the NAIA National Championship. Next up for FHSU is one final non-conference matchup against Doane College on December 30.