HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team knocked down 50 percent from the floor for a second night in a row in a 80-46 win over Bethany Monday evening (Dec. 19). The Tigers (11-3) never trailed in the contest en route to their ninth-consecutive victory.
 
After leading the team in scoring for the second time in Sunday's win over Newman, Ellie Stearns opened Monday's contest by drilling a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game. Olivia Hollenbeck took over after that, scoring 10 of her game-high 15 points in the opening quarter on 5-of-6 shooting while blocking two shots on the defensive end. A trio of buckets from Clary Donica down the stretch gave the Tigers a two-touchdown lead after one quarter, 21-7.
 
A traditional 3-point play from Megan Earney and a basket from Kia Wilson pushed the lead as high as 19 early in the second quarter before Bethany went on a run, outscoring the Tigers 16-3 over a five-minute span to cut within six. An Emma Ruddle jumper fell through just before time expired in the first half, giving the Tigers a 35-27 advantage at the break.
 
A balanced offensive attack and suffocating defense helped the Tigers pull away after halftime. The Tigers outscored BC 45-19 after the break, knocking down 52.6 percent from the floor (20-of-38) while forcing 18 Swede turnovers and allowing a shooting percentage of 30.4 percent (7-of-23). Twelve of the 13 Tigers to step on the floor in the second half knocked down at least one shot, with 10 different players scoring three or more points after halftime.
 
Stearns recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds while Donica scored in double figures for the first time this season with 10. Sydney Golladay dished out seven assists for the second game in a row, with Stearns and Ruddle adding three assists each. Hollenbeck added to her team-high block total with four on the night.
 
The Tigers recorded season highs with 34 points off turnovers, 44 points in the paint, 22 fast-break points and 41 points off the bench.
 
Fort Hays State will take a brief pause for the holiday season before returning to practice next week in preparation for a matchup between the only two undefeated teams remaining in conference play. The Tigers will ring in the new year against No. 17 Central Missouri (8-0, 5-0 MIAA) on Saturday, December 31 beginning at 1 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.