HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team knocked down seven 3-pointers in Thursday's (Feb. 15) opening quarter to quickly establish a double-digit lead, going on to comfortably defeat Northeastern State for the second time in a week, 73-45. The Tigers move to 20-5 (11-5 MIAA) on the year, while the RiverHawks dip to 9-14 (5-11 MIAA) this season.
 
Fort Hays State secured its seventh-consecutive 20-win season with the victory, by far the longest such streak in program history. The Tigers had never eclipsed 20-wins more than two years in a row before this streak began in 2011. Tony Hobson has now led the Tigers to seven of their 15 20-win seasons all-time.
 
The victory, combined with other results from around the league, move the Tigers up to a tie for third in the MIAA standings with just three games to play before the postseason. FHSU is knotted up at 11-5 in league play with Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney, who just happen to be the next two opponents for FHSU. Fort Hays State secured at the very least a home game in the first round of the MIAA Tournament, but is very much in the running for a first round bye.
 
The Tigers finished the evening with 11 made 3-pointers, their most in a game this season.
 
Coming into the contest averaging just 6.4 made 3-pointers per contest, Fort Hays State blew past that benchmark in the opening 10 minutes, knocking down an astounding 77.8 percent from behind the arc (7-of-9). After NSU scored first to take the lead, Kacey Kennett answered with the first long-ranger of the evening. Tatyana Legette added a triple four minutes into the contest put FHSU in front for the remainder of the evening, 9-7.
 
Lanie Page scored the next 10 points for the Tigers, including a pair of 3-pointers, totaling 13 points in the opening quarter. Whitney Clampitt knocked down a pair of shots from behind the 3-point line over the final two minutes of the first quarter, putting the Tigers in front by 14 heading into the second period, 28-14.
 
Fort Hays State held Northeastern State to just one field goal over the first nine minutes of the second frame, going on a 13-4 run to stretch the lead to 23, 41-18.
 
The RiverHawks scored the first bucket of the second half to momentarily trim the lead below 20, but Page responded with her third 3-pointer of the evening, the most she has made in a game as a Tiger.
 
Fort Hays State continued to pour it on down the stretch, using an 18-4 run spanning the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter to lead by as many as 31, 71-40.
 
Page led all scorers with 19 points in the win, drilling 3-of-6 from behind the arc while dishing out four assists and making one steal. Legette recorded her fifth double-double of the season, totaling 12 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Kennett added 11 points, two assists and two steals while Carly Heim swiped a team-high four steals and scored eight points. Whitney Randall matched her career-high with five rebounds while scoring eight points, one shy of her personal-best mark.
 
The Tigers will look to knock off a direct competitor in the race for an MIAA Tournament bye when Central Oklahoma comes to town on Saturday (Feb. 17). First tip is set for 2 p.m.