After battling through two single-digit victories over the last week, Fort Hays State returned to its dominant ways with a 71-41 victory over Northeastern State on Saturday (Jan. 17).
 
Fort Hays State is now 16-1 on the season and has won 15 straight, while NSU dropped to 8-8 overall and 4-5 in conference games.  15 consecutive wins is now the second longest win streak in program history, trailing only a 23-game win streak that ended the Tigers' 1990-91 NAIA Championship season and lasted into 1991-92.
 
Close through the first three and a half minutes, a free throw from Kate Lehman sparked the Tigers to an 18-0 run (lasting over eight minutes) and FHSU never looked back, breaking off seven unanswered soon after to give the Tigers a 32-10 advantage with 4:18 to go in the half.
 
The Tigers' 19-point lead (36-17) at the half proved valuable for the Tigers, as NSU matched the Tigers with effort to start the final half.  After the RiverHawks cut the lead to 14 (36-22) in the first minute of play, back-to-back layups from Lehman and jumper from Keriann Shaw helped put the lead back to 20 (42-22). 
 
Still, the RiverHawks did not fold, running off seven unanswered near the 13-minute mark to bring the score back within 15 (46-31). Though the Tigers lead continued to fluctuate between 15 and 19 over the next six minutes, it remained a competitive game where NSU appeared to be on the verge of major run.
 
That threat ended with 7:25 to go, however, as Nikola Kacperska's three-pointer started an 11-0 run that lasted four minutes and moved the lead to 28 (66-38).  Overall, FHSU outscored the RiverHawks 16-3 over the final seven and a half minutes.
 
As a team, the Tigers shot 38.2 percent while putting together a much-improved effort from the free line – shooting 78.9 percent (15-of-19) on the day.
 
Kate Lehman recorded her fifth consecutive double-double, tallying 18 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.  She finished with three blocks as well.  Lehman is now just 12 rebounds short of tying Annette Wiles for FHSU's career rebounding record (961).

Chelsea Mason's hot shooting early (12 first half points) helped the Tigers take a comfortable lead early, as the junior tied Lehman with 18 points while hitting 2-of-7 from long range. 
 
Keriann Shaw's nine rebounds (seven in the second half) was second most on the team as the senior continued her improved play on the boards.  She has 55 rebounds of the last five games after 51 rebounds in the first 11 games of the year.
 
NSU's Chelsea Beathard scored 16 for the RiverHawks while Kate Bellamy finished with 10 rebounds. NSU attempted just two free throws all game, hitting both with 3:50 to go in the first half.  Also, NSU shot just 21.4 percent in the first half and finished the game 16-of-58 from the field (27.6 percent)
 
The game was head coach Tony Hobson's 100th home game along the Tiger sideline, with FHSU winning an impressive 81 of those contests.
 
Fort Hays State remains home next week for its final non-conference game of the season.  The Tigers host South Dakota Mines on Thursday (Jan. 22) at 5:30 p.m.  On the year, FHSU is 7-1 against non-conference opponents.