Box Score

Fort Hays State never trailed in a 73-56 win over Missouri Western on Wednesday (Feb. 27) in Hays. The Lady Tigers took care of business in looking to make a run at the NCAA Tournament after falling just out of the regional rankings this week on Wednesday. FHSU is now 19-6 overall and 11-6 in the MIAA.

With the win, Fort Hays State moved back into a tie for sixth in the conference standings after Pittsburg State lost at home to Missouri Southern on Wednesday evening.

A 21-6 run early in the first half pushed the FHSU lead to 15 with 6:26 to go in the opening half. A 12-2 run by the Griffons cut the lead back to five with 3:04 remaining in the first half, but FHSU ended the half on a 10-0 run to push the lead back to 15 at the break. The lead never dipped below 10 the rest of the way, reaching as many as 24 points in the second half.

Katelyn Edwards and Kate Lehman turned in big performances for FHSU. Edwards finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. She was 10-of-14 from the field, including a 1-of-2 effort beyond the 3-point line and 2-of-4 effort at the free-throw line. Lehman finished with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds with four blocked shots. She was 7-of-13 from the field and 6-of-10 at the free-throw line.

FHSU shot 45.8 percent from the field, including 42.9 percent beyond the 3-point line, while holding MWSU to 34.9 percent overall and just 20 percent beyond the 3-point line.

JaQuitta Dever led MWSU with 14 points, followed by Heather Howard with 12 and Alicia Bell with 11.

Fort Hays State will wrap up the regular season on Friday (Mar. 1) against Lincoln University in Hays at 5:30 pm and then waits to see the opponent it will play in the first round of the MIAA Tournament on Tuesday (Mar. 5).