ST. CLOUD, Minn. - A solid all-around effort helped the Fort Hays State women's basketball team cruise past Bemidji State Saturday afternoon (Nov. 19) in a neutral site affair. The Tigers shot 47.2 percent (34-of-72) from the field, including a 40 percent effort from behind the arc (10-of-25), while making 10 steals and forcing 16 turnovers on the defensive end. Tony Hobson's squad improved to 4-0 on the year while handing the Beavers (2-1) their first loss of the year.
 
The Tigers put on an offensive rebounding clinic in the contest, grabbing 19 boards off the offensive glass leading to 25 second-chance points. Fort Hays State also had significant advantages in points off turnovers (21-10) and points in the paint (39-26).
 
Jill Faxon had another successful shooting night, knocking down 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from downtown for a game-high 22 points, one off her career high, while distributing a team-best three assists. Nikola Kacperska knocked down a pair of triples, tallying 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds while making two steals. Carly Heim scored a career-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, pouring in both of her long-range efforts. 11 different Tigers tallied points in the win.
 
The Tigers trailed for all of 14 seconds, falling behind 2-1 after the Beavers dropped in a layup for the first field goal of the game. Madison Mittie answered with a three-pointer on the next Tiger possession, and the rout was on. Fort Hays State closed the quarter on a 13-5 run to stretch the lead to 11, 23-12.
 
Fort Hays State held the Beavers to just four field goals in the second quarter, forcing seven turnovers in the frame. The Tigers led by as many as 33, 50-17, after a 27-5 run over the first eight minutes of the quarter.
 
The Tigers defense was even more effective in the third quarter, limiting BSU to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting and forcing six more turnovers. A layup from Taylor Rolfs on the final possession of the quarter put the Tigers in front by 52, their largest lead of the season (80-28).
 
After scoring just 28 points in the first three quarters, the Beavers more than doubled that in the fourth quarter by scoring 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting. But the 52-point cushion the Tigers built was more than enough, still winning by 33 points.
 
The Tigers will return to Gross Memorial Coliseum next weekend for their home opener, a 5 p.m. contest with Bethel College on Friday (Nov. 25). The post-Thanksgiving basketball feast continues Saturday with the first FHSU men's and women's doubleheader of the year when Sterling College comes to town.