HAYS, Kan. - The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in a 90-44 blowout victory against Newman Sunday afternoon (Dec. 19). The win was FHSU's largest margin of victory against a Division II opponent in more than eight years (109-45 vs OPSU, 11/16/12).
 
The Tigers (9-1, 2-10 MIAA) hit 42.1 percent of their shots from behind the arc (8-of-19), including a lights-out 7-of-12 effort before halftime (58.3 percent). The Jets (2-10, 0-6 MIAA) struggled from the floor all afternoon, connecting on just 29.6 percent of their shots (16-of-54).
 
Thirteen Tigers saw the floor in the victory, with 12 finding the score sheet. Olivia Hollenbeck had a flawless day on the offensive end, hitting 8-of-8 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the charity stripe to lead the team with 21 points.
 
Fort Hays State led by double figures less than seven minutes into the game when a Cydney Bergmann layup gave the Tigers a 13-3 lead. A 3-pointer from Megan Earney late in the frame put the Tigers up 13 after 10 minutes, 21-8.
 
The Tigers doubled that lead by intermission after hitting 76.9 percent from the floor in the second quarter (10-of-13). Fort Hays State hit 5-of-6 from behind the arc in the period, including two from Lauren West, one triple from Whitney Randall and another from Earney.
 
After taking control in the first half, Fort Hays State put the hammer down in the third quarter, holding the Jets to just four points and a shooting percentage of 13.3 percent (2-of-15). The Tigers scored 20-straight points over an eight minute, 39 second run, the most consecutive points the Tigers have scored in more than two years (20-0 run vs Bethany, 12/12/19).
 
Hollenbeck did the majority of her damage during the third, hitting four shots and three free throws to singlehandedly outscore Newman by seven, 11-4.
 
The Tiger lead ballooned as high as 49 points midway through the fourth quarter after a layup from Sydney Golladay put the Tigers in front 84-35.
 
Fort Hays State hit at least half of its shots for the third time this season, finishing the game with a shooting percentage of 55.4 percent (31-of-56). After turning the ball over 21 times on Friday, FHSU matched its season low with just nine turnovers in the win over Newman.
 
The Tigers dominated on the boards, outrebounding Newman 41-26. FHSU scored 20 points off 15 Jet turnovers and outscored the Jets in transition by 28, 30-2.
 
Hollenbeck added a career-high four steals to her team-high 21 points. Katie Wagner chipped in 14 points, three assists and a team-best eight rebounds. Earney matched her season-high with 11 points after burying a trio of 3-pointers.
 
Jaden Hobbs had nine of FHSU's 28 assists, while Golladay distributed a career-best seven assists.
 
The Tigers will wrap up the semester Monday (Dec. 20) when they host Bethel in the final non-conference contest of the season. Opening tip inside Gross Memorial Coliseum is set for 6 p.m. in the women's-only contest.