Fort Hays State women's basketball pushed its win streak to nine games with a hard-fought 71-52 win at Northwest Missouri State on Saturday (Dec. 20). The Tigers forced 29 turnovers out of the Bearcats to move to 10-1 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA. NWMSU dropped to 4-8 overall and 0-3 in the MIAA.
The lead changed hands eight times early in the first half as both teams struggled with turnovers. The Tigers finally found the burst they needed to get a cushion, going on a 17-8 run over about a nine minute span to lead 28-20 with 3:16 to go in the opening half. In that run, the Tigers had five steals that led to five fast-break layups. FHSU led by as many as 11 in the first half before NWMSU cut the lead to eight at the break, 36-28.
After forcing the Bearcats into 12 first half turnovers, the Tigers kept the pressure on in the second half. NWMSU committed 17 turnovers in the second half. The 29 turnovers tied the second-highest amount the Tigers have forced in a game this year.
A 7-0 burst by the Tigers midway through the second half pushed their lead to 16 points. The lead eventually grew to 20 points with 6:25 to go in the game before the final margin of 19 points.
Fort Hays State scored 33 points off of Northwest Missouri's 29 turnovers.
Chelsea Mason,
Nikola Kacperska, and
Jill Faxon all had a team-high four steals in the game.
Mason led the Tigers with 19 points, which included three 3-point field goals. She was 6-of-19 from the field and 4-of-6 at the free-throw line.
Paige Lunsford finished with a career-high 15 points after scoring the first eight points of the game for FHSU.
Kate Lehman finished with 11 points, but was held to just five rebounds and one blocked shot.
Keriann Shaw had a team-high three assists.
Ariel Easton led NWMSU with 11 points, followed by Tanya Meyer with 10 points. Easton had a team-high eight rebounds and four assists.
The Bearcats outshot the Tigers from the field, 41.5 percent to 39.7 percent. FHSU finished the game 15-of-20 at the free-throw line (75 percent).
The Tigers take a two-week holiday break before hosting Missouri Southern, currently ranked No. 22 in the nation, on Saturday, January 3 in Hays. Game time is set for 2 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
