HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team overcame a slow start to dominate in the second half against Midland University Tuesday evening (Dec. 19) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, winning 73-46. The Tigers head into the holiday break 10-2 on the season, while the game was an exhibition for the 8-7 Warriors.
 
Neither side had any luck with the rim in the first five minutes, with multiple layups and short jumpers bouncing in and out of the basket. The teams combined for just three field goals and eight points before the opening media timeout, with FHSU leading 6-2 after five-plus minutes of play. The Tigers finally got things going out of the huddle, making five of their next six shots and scoring 12-straight points before stretching the lead to 19-5 at the end of the first quarter. The FHSU defense created problems for the Warriors all quarter, holding them to just two field goals and two offensive rebounds while creating eight turnovers.
 
Midland battled back in the second frame, going on a 10-2 run to open the quarter to close within six, 21-15. Gokce Aslan broke up the Warrior momentum with a three from the left wing before Lindsay Shupe dropped in a layup on the next possession to stretch the lead back to double figures. Midland trimmed the deficit to nine three more times, but a 3-pointer from Carly Heim late in the quarter put the Tigers in front by double digits for the rest of the night, 35-23. FHSU went into the locker room up 10, 35-25.
 
The Tiger defense ramped up its effort once again to start the second half, holding the Warriors without a field goal for more than five minutes while creating three turnovers. FHSU took advantage, scoring the first 11 points of the period to extend the lead to 21, 46-25. The Black and Gold posted a 58.8 percent effort from the floor in the third quarter while holding Midland to 3-for-12 shooting in the frame.
 
Fort Hays State added to its lead in the fourth quarter, going up by as many as 27 after Whitney Randall dropped in a pair of free throws. The freshman added two more points on a nice post move a few trips later, helping her match her career high with six points. Shupe later built the lead back up to 27 after scoring the final four points of the game on a pair of driving layups.
 
Four players eclipsed the 10-point plateau for the Tigers, led for the second game in a row and the fourth time in the last seven outings by Heim, who chipped in 14 points. Kacey Kennett added 13 points while making a career-high seven steals, matching Heim's team-high from earlier this season (11/17/17 vs UCCS). Kennett made an astounding five steals in the first quarter alone. Tatyana Legette contributed 12 points while leading the way with eight rebounds and four assists, missing just one shot from the floor (5-of-6). Robin Ritsema swatted away three shots in just five minutes of action, her third game this season with at least three blocks.
 
The Tigers finished the game right at 50 percent shooting from the floor (30-of-60) while limiting a typically sharp-shooting Midland team to just 33.3 percent on the night. The Tigers made the Warriors pay for their turnovers, turning those miscues into 25 points off turnovers.
 
Fort Hays State will be back out on the floor once more this calendar year when they host Bethany College on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m.