HAYS, Kan. - The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team came out on top in a defensive battle against Washburn, avenging its lone loss of the season with a 59-47 victory on Thursday (Jan. 29). An impressive 3,065 fans packed Gross Memorial Coliseum, the second-largest attendance in Division II this season.
 
The win moves Fort Hays State to 19-1 overall and 10-1 in MIAA play and extends the Tigers' winning streak to 12 games, the sixth-longest active streak in Division II and tied for seventh-longest in team history.
 
Both teams struggled out of the gate, with each hitting just four field goals over the first 10 minutes. The Tigers hit 4-of-12 from the floor, while the FHSU defense limited Washburn to a shooting percentage of 21.1 percent in the frame (4-of-19).
 
The Ichabods (14-6, 7-4 MIAA) hit two of their first three shots to take a 4-2 lead before a traditional 3-point play from Talexa Weeter put the Tigers on top. FHSU later led by three before taking a 9-8 lead into the second period.
 
Offensive production improved for both sides over the next 10 minutes, with the lead changing hands six more times before halftime. Olivia Mortensen knocked down 4-of-5 shots in the period, contributing eight points. A 3-pointer from Ellie Stearns gave the Tigers a 22-20 lead with three minutes and change to go before halftime, but the Ichabods managed to tie things up at 24 at the break. It was the lowest scoring first half for the Tigers this season.
 
The tussle continued in the third quarter, with the teams trading buckets until Brooke Loewe scored four points in 30 seconds to put the Tigers up four. The Ichabods scored the next five points, taking a 33-32 lead with 3:36 remaining in the third.
 
Stearns answered with a layup on the other end to put the Tigers back on top before the defense took over once again, holding the Ichabods scoreless for the final three minutes to take a 36-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Loewe opened the final frame with a 3-pointer to put the Tigers up six, the largest lead of the game up to that point for either side. Washburn made another push, however, going on a 10-4 run over the next five minutes to tie the score at 43 with 4:21 to go.
 
And that's when Weeter took over, hitting 6-of-7 from the floor and totaling 14 points in the final four minutes to allow the Tigers pull away. Her final basket pushed the lead as high as 15 with 21 seconds remaining before the Ichabods hit a 3-pointer to make the final margin 12 points.
 
The Tiger defense was equally as impressive down the stretch, forcing five-straight Ichabod misses until their long-range make in the waning seconds.
 
Weeter led all scorers with 25 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Loewe scored 15 points, one off her season high, while adding eight assists. Mortensen tallied 12 points and five rebounds, with Stearns adding five points, eight rebounds and a career-high two blocks.
 
All offensive production for the Tigers came from the starting lineup, with FHSU failing to score any bench points for the first time during Talia Kahrs' tenure.
 
The Ichabods outrebounded the Tigers by two, 39-37, including 18 offensive rebounds, but the FHSU defense limited the visitors to only 10 second-chance points.
 
The Tigers wrap up their homestand on Saturday, January 31 when they look to complete the season sweep against Central Missouri. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m.