Box Score

The Fort Hays State women's basketball team picked up their third consecutive victory on Thursday evening (Feb. 16), knocking off Southwest Baptist 78-71. The victory is the first for Fort Hays State over the Bearcats in Bolivar, Mo., and it completes a season-sweep of SBU for the first time since FHSU joined the MIAA.
 
Fort Hays State got strong contributions from the bench in the first half, with 20 of the team's 28 points coming from players who did not start the game. Kaiameka Brown and Kimber Weiser sparked the Tigers offense in the first half and both scored seven to help sent the game to the break tied at 28-28.
 
The game was kept close early in the second half before Traci Keyser, coming off the bench to start the half, entered and scored eight of her 12 points to help turn a three-point deficit into a 58-47 lead with 9:55 to play in the game. Fort Hays State weathered every run made by the Bearcats down the stretch and never led SBU get any closer than within six points.
 
Brown led the Tigers, who shot 45.8% (27-of-59) from the field, with 13 points, while four others joined her in double figures. Keyser finished with 12 points, including 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line, and Kate Lehman was strong in the post again, recording her seventh double-double of the year with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Lehman also added four more blocked shots to her total, giving her 81 for the season. Weiser and Katelyn Edwards each chipped in 10 points as well.
 
Southwest Baptist, who falls to 9-15 (4-14 MIAA) on the season, got a strong outing from LaKendra Smith, who finished with 22 points and seven rebounds. Brittney Dukes added 17 points for the Bearcats, who were outrebounded 42-33 by FHSU. The teams shot nearly identical numbers from the field and long range, but the Lady Tigers hit one more three-pointer and four more free throws for the seven point advantage.
 
The win was crucial for Fort Hays State, who is now 18-7 (10-7 MIAA) on the year. The Lady Tigers are still in fifth place in the conference standings and now just a game behind Central Missouri for fourth. They will play their final road game of the season on Saturday (Feb. 18) against Missouri Southern. The game will tipoff at 1:00 pm from Joplin, Mo.