FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team ran its winning streak to 10 with a 73-46 victory over Rogers State Thursday inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. It is the 17th double-digit winning streak in program history.
The Tigers (17-1, 8-1 MIAA) used fierce defense in the first quarter to establish a double-digit lead, holding the Hillcats (6-12, 3-6) to just two made field goals in the frame. Talexa Weeter totaled nine of her game-high 23 points in the quarter, helping the junior become the 26th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points. The Goodland, Kan. native needed only 62 games to hit that threshold, becoming the second-fastest player to 1,000 points in team history (Annette Wiles, 57 games).
After leading 17-4 at the end of the first quarter, both teams picked up the pace in the second stanza. FHSU hit 61.5 percent from the floor (8-of-13) while the Hillcats knocked down 41.2 percent (7-of-17), leading to a 36-22 halftime lead for the Tigers.
Mikayla Pilley knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game early in the second half before a 9-0 Tiger run pushed the lead to 22, 53-31. The freshman then opened the fourth quarter with her career-best third triple of the game before Kaitlin Schumann racked up six points in the frame, allowing the home team to lead by as many as 29.
Weeter matched her career high with 14 rebounds, recording her sixth double-double of the season and the ninth of her career. Brooke Loewe approached triple-double territory, racking up 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Pilley added 11 points and six rebounds, while Avery Lowe scored eight points.
Rogers State played 14 players without any reaching double figures in scoring, with Samantha Shanks leading the way with nine.
The Tigers more than doubled RSU's rebound total, outrebounding the Hillcats by 29, 57-28. It was the largest rebound margin for the team since December 2023 (outrebounded Newman 55-26, 12/17/23).
Fort Hays State will continue a four-game homestand on Saturday (Jan. 24) when the Tigers host Central Oklahoma beginning at 2 p.m.