HAYS, Kan. - The sixth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team made an authoritative statement in its final home game of the regular season, defeating Nebraska-Kearney 92-56 on Wednesday (Feb. 26). The Tigers (25-2, 16-2 MIAA) hit 60.7 percent from the floor in the win, surpassing 60 percent for the first time in four years (62.1 percent at Pittsburg State, 1/23/21).
 
FHSU's 36-point win is the second-largest margin of victory in the 105-game series history between the Tigers and Lopers (18-8, 11-6 MIAA). The Tiger defense was equally as impressive, limiting the Lopers to a season-low shooting percentage of 30.6 percent.
 
Nebraska-Kearney won the tip and scored on the first possession but led for only 17 seconds as Katie Wagner DeGarmo answered on the other end with a layup. The Tigers then forced five-straight UNK misses, giving the home team a chance to race in front 8-2.
 
Bailey Wilborn later poured in a pair of 3-pointers, helping the Tiger lead reach double figures less than six minutes into the game. DeGarmo finished the quarter with eight points on 4-of-4 shooting, leading FHSU to a blistering 78.6 percent shooting as a team (11-of-14).
 
After leading 29-11 at the end of the first quarter, Talexa Weeter converted a traditional 3-point play to push the lead to 21 points nine seconds into the second frame. Fort Hays State later led by as many as 28 on an Olivia Hollenbeck layup before taking a 25-point lead into the locker room, 48-23.
 
The Tigers finished the first half shooting 68 percent from the floor (17-of-25) while UNK hit 25 percent before halftime (9-of-36). The graduate student duo of DeGarmo (14 first-half points) and Hollenbeck (10) outscored the Lopers in the first half, 24-23.
 
Fort Hays State continued to pour it on in the second half, growing the lead to 31 points late in the third quarter before going up by as many as 41 in the final frame. Weeter took over in the second half, totaling 18 points and six rebounds while playing just over 10 minutes in the half.
 
The sophomore led all players with 25 points for the game while playing only 17 minutes. She added seven rebounds and two assists while shooting 9-of-13 from the floor.
 
DeGarmo totaled 20 points and nine rebounds, while Hollenbeck chipped in 12 points, six steals, five rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Brooke Loewe dished out nine assists while Maddy Powell added three assists off the bench.
 
The Tigers combined to hit a season-high 10 3-pointers, knocking down an impressive 10-of-15 from the floor (66.7 percent). Wilborn and Megan Earney both hit a trio of 3-pointers, while Weeter added two.

The win extends FHSU's winning streak to 12 games, matching the longest winning streak of the season and tied for the seventh-longest winning streak in team history.
 
The Tigers and Lopers will wrap up the regular season by playing again in just three days, with first tip set for 2 p.m. Saturday in Kearney.