By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS - For a second-straight game, the Fort Hays State women got off to a slow start. But unlike Thursday when they were able to rally past Missouri Southern State, the hole was too deep in an 87-65 loss to Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The hot-shooting Gorillas (11-4, 6-3 MIAA) scored the first eight points of the game and led 25-10 after the first quarter. Pitt State pushed the lead to 33 late in the second quarter and led 50-19 at the half.
The Tigers (13-5, 8-2 MIAA) made a furious comeback attempt, going on a 17-1 third quarter run to close the gap to 16 but trailed by 20 at the end of the third quarter. FHSU would get as close as 14 with a little over five minutes to play but the Gorillas answered scored seven straight to hold the Tigers off.
The Gorillas shot 50.8 percent from the field. FHSU was able to get its field goal percentage up to 37.3 percent for the game after shooting 23-percent in the first half. The Tigers finished 0-for-19 from beyond the 3-point line. The Gorillas 8-for-20 beyond the 3-point line.
Olivia Hollenbeck led the Tigers with 20 points and tied for top rebounding honors on the team with Sydney Golladay and Kate Dilsaver, all with five. Katie Wagner and Emma Ruddle both scored 12. Golladay had five assists.
Grace Pyle finished with 21 points and hit three 4-pointers. Tristan Gegg added 19 points 19 points and five 3-pointers.
The Tigers slipped to a second-place tie with Nebraska-Kearney in the MIAA standings, which is the team they will play next Saturday at GMC.