PITTSBURG, Kan. – Fort Hays State, ranked No. 15 in the latest WBCA Top 25 Poll, improved to 13-3 overall and 7-3 in the MIAA by knocking off No. 20 (WBCA)/No. 12 (D2CSC) ranked Pittsburg State on Saturday (Jan. 13) at John Lance Arena. After the teams played to a 19-19 tie through one quarter, FHSU took every quarter that followed and won by a score of 68-53. The Gorillas moved to 12-3 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA.
Olivia Hollenbeck had a big day for the Tigers both offensively and defensively. She led the Tigers in scoring with 18 points and was just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. She also tied for a team-high three assists. On the defensive side of the ball, she showed played sound defense protecting the basket, while matching her career high in blocked shots with five.
Hollenbeck was instrumental in getting the Tigers off to a strong start. She scored eight of the first 13 points of the game for FHSU, helping the Tigers forge ahead by five after being down by four early.
Ellie Stearns poured in a couple 3-point field goals later in the frame to push the Tigers to a 7-point advantage. But, the Gorillas closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to get the game tied 19-19.
The run reached 9-0 when they hit the first bucket of the second quarter, but an
Emma Ruddle 3-point field goal snapped the run and put the Tigers back on top 22-21. The teams traded the lead back-and-forth for a bit until a
Sydney Golladay 3-point field goal put the Tigers ahead for good. The bucket put FHSU up 27-25 and started an 8-0 run to push the Tigers back up by seven that included a Hollenbeck bucket and then a
Megan Earney 3-pointer in transition off a dish from Golladay. The Gorillas outscored the Tigers 8-5 from that point to halftime, but the Tigers led by four (37-33) at the break.
Pittsburg State scored the first bucket of the second half to get back within two points, but a pair of Hollenbeck free throws pushed the lead back to four and then an
Emma Ruddle layup in transition pushed the lead to six. Both teams struggled to find a footing offensively for while as the Tiger defense held the Gorillas scoreless for about five and a half minutes. Hollenbeck then started another key 7-0 Tiger run to end the quarter with a bucket. Ruddle followed with a 3-pointer and then Hollenbeck found
Kate Dilsaver on a break-away layup opportunity to push the lead into double figures for the first time at 11 points. Golladay hit the final basket of the quarter to push the Tiger lead to 12 at 52-40. FHSU held PSU to just 13.3 percent shooting from the field in the quarter to build separation.
The Tigers continued to defend the Gorillas well early in the fourth quarter and extended their lead to 19 by extending their overall run to 9-0 going back to the third quarter. The Gorillas made their first basket of the fourth at the 6:20 mark, but
Ellie Stearns followed with a 3-pointer to push the lead to 20. A pair of Ruddle free throws then pushed the lead to its largest, 22 points, with just under five minutes to go. FHSU cruised to the 15-point victory from that point.
Joining Hollenbeck in double figures scoring for the game were Ruddle (12), Stearns (10), and
Katie Wagner (10). Golladay, Ruddle, and Wagner matched Hollenbeck in assists, each with a team-high three.
Grace Pyle, who led the Gorillas with 10 points at halftime, was held scoreless in the second half. Macie Mays was the top scorer for Pitt State with 11, while Savannah Campbell matched Pyle with 10 points. Pyle led the Gorillas in rebounds with nine, while Harper Schreiner led in assists with six.
The Tigers now prep for the final of three big road battles next week against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Jan. 20). The MIAA is stacked at the top right now with the Tigers (7-3) sitting alone in second place. The top seven teams in the conference all have between three and four losses and at least 11 wins overall. Missouri Southern (7-2) took over the lead in the MIAA by a half game on Saturday with a win over UNK. Nebraska-Kearney will enter next week's game at 12-4 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA.
