Box Score

Fort Hays State opened with a 9-0 run and never looked back in an 82-51 win over Arkansas Tech on Friday (Nov. 23) at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan., the first contest of the 2012 Capitol Plaza Thanksgiving Classic. Fort Hays State improved to 5-0 overall with the win and will take on Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday (Nov. 24) at 4 pm, also at Lee Arena.

Both Fort Hays State and Arkansas Tech (now 1-1 overall) entered the game receiving votes in the national poll. Arkansas Tech returned two starters this year from a team that finished last year at 22-4 overall and reached No. 1 in the nation for two weeks in January.

The Lady Tigers went on a 13-0 burst from the 5:35 to 2:43 marks of the first half to open their lead up to 27 at 44-17. They led by that same margin at halftime 48-21. FHSU enjoyed its largest lead of the game at the 11:59 mark of the second half, leading by 36 at 66-30.

Melissa Nelson, Traci Keyser, and Kate Lehman all tied for a team-high 16 points. Nelson and Keyser each dropped four 3-point field goals in the contest, combining for eight of the team's 10. Nelson was 6-of-11 from the field and Keyser was 5-of-9 from the field. Lehman was 7-of-11 from the field in the post and added five blocked shots. Katelyn Edwards led FHSU in rebounds with eight and added 11 points. Kaiameka Brown finished with a team-high five assists. Tera Ingalsbe also reached double figures in scoring with 10 points.

Roselis Silva led Arkansas Tech with 12 points, followed by Jessica Weatherford with 10.

The Lady Tigers enjoyed hot shooting throughout the contest with a season-high 54.4 percent (31-of-57) from the field. They were 52.9 percent in the first half and then 56.5 percent in the second half. FHSU held Arkansas Tech to just 34.5 percent from the field, including just 9.1 percent from beyond the 3-point line (1-of-11).

FHSU has defeated every opponent it has faced this year by at least 20 points, a 66-46 win over Newman being the closest contest so far. Texas-Permian Basin also entered this tournament undefeated and takes on 13th-ranked Washburn on the first day of competition at the Capitol Plaza Thanksgiving Classic.