KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The third-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will play in the MIAA Women's Basketball Championship game for the second year in a row after a 27-point win over Washburn in the conference semifinals Saturday (March 9), 75-48. It is Fort Hays State's third trip to the MIAA title game since joining the league in 2006.

It was the largest margin of victory in the semifinals of the MIAA Women's Basketball Championship since 2005 (ESU 89 UCM 48, 3/5/05) and was Fort Hays State's largest margin of victory inside Municipal Auditorium.
 
The Tigers' sharp shooting was the story in the first half, with FHSU knocking down nine of its first 12 three-point attempts including eight straight over nearly 10 minutes of game time.
 
The Tigers had their foot on the gas from the start and rarely let up, racing out to a 13-point lead by the end of the first quarter. Two Washburn triples bookended a long range make from Taylor Rolfs to open the game before the Tigers went on a 13-0 run to set the tone. While holding Washburn scoreless for nearly seven minutes, Fort Hays State jumped in front on a put-back layup from Belle Barbieri before Tatyana Legette cleaned up the offensive glass with another stick back. The Tiger lead ballooned to double figures on a three-pointer from Lanie Page, prompting an Ichabod timeout.
 
And that's when the fun really started. Page's triple was the first of eight-straight makes from behind the arc for the Tigers, including makes from five different Tigers. Whitney Clampitt hit a step-back three late in the first quarter before Kacey Kennett drilled a buzzer-beating heave from nearly half court to help the Tigers double-up the Ichabods in the first quarter, 26-13.
 
The lights out shooting continued into the second quarter, with Fort Hays State drilling its first five shots from behind the arc. Clampitt and Kennett both added their second three of the game, Hailey Walker joined in with one and Rolfs finished things off with two more long range makes.
 
The Tigers were taking care of business on the other end of the court as well, dominating on the glass and playing stifling defense. Fort Hays State held the Ichabods to a miniscule 7.1 percent effort from the floor in the second quarter (1-for-14), with the lone make coming with 37 seconds left in the half. The Tigers outrebounded WU 26-11 in the opening 20 minutes, allowing the Ichabods just three offensive rebounds.
 
When it was all said and done, the Tigers used an astounding 40-9 run over more than 15 minutes of game play to blow things wide open, leading 43-15. A late Washburn lead moved the halftime advantage to 25, 43-18.
 
The Tigers hit three more three-pointers in the second half, totaling a season-high 12 makes from behind the arc. It was the most three-point makes for the team in more than two years (14 vs MSSU, 2/28/17). They finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from deep, also a season high.
 
Fort Hays State posted a shooting percentage of 43.3 percent (26-of-60) for the game after knocking down 14-of-36 from inside the arc. Washburn was limited to a season-low 30.4 shooting percentage (17-of-56). The Tigers grabbed 20 more rebounds than their in-state rivals, 47-27.
 
Five players scored in double figures for the sixth time this season, including a game-high 15 from Page. Clampitt scored a season-high 12 points on 3-for-3 shooting from deep while adding a career-best five rebounds. Rolfs had 11 points, five rebounds and matched her career high with four steals while Barbieri tallied her fifth double-double of the year, totaling 10 points and a career-best 13 rebounds alongside three blocks. Kennett chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
 
The Tigers will now play for the MIAA championship Sunday (March 10) against No. 24 Central Missouri. First tip from historic Municipal Auditorium is set for 3:15 p.m.
 
Sunday's contest will be available on Cox channel 22, Spectrum channel 30 and the Midco Sports Network for fans across the region unable to make it to KC. More information can be found here.