FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - A big second half helped the sixth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team rally from a 20-point deficit to defeat Northwest Missouri State by double figures on Thursday, winning 84-71. The rally matched FHSU's largest comeback in an MIAA game since joining the league in 2006 (20 points at UNK, 2/2/19).
Junior Talexa Weeter erupted for a career-high 45 points, one shy of the Tiger program record and just the fourth 40-plus point game by a Tiger in team history. It was the first 40-point game for a Tiger since Petrece Faulkner's school-record 46 points at Adams State in 1993 (2/6/93).
Weeter's 45 points are tied for the most by a Division II women's basketball player this season. She broke the school record with 17 made free throws and tied the program mark with 20 free-throw attempts.
The Tigers (11-1, 2-1 MIAA) hit three of their first four shots to race out to a quick 9-5 lead, but the Bearcats bounced back after the first two minutes. NWMSU (9-4, 2-1 MIAA) hit 10-of-12 from the floor to go on a 30-7 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, building a 42-22 lead which is the largest deficit of the season for the Tigers.
Fort Hays State bounced back over the final five minutes, scoring the final nine points of the frame while creating eight-straight Bearcat misses to close within 42-31 at halftime.
Weeter scored 11 points in the first six minutes of the second half to help close the gap before a pair of Ellie Stearns 3-pointers tied things up at 50 with 14 minutes to play. Stearns added a layup on the next possession to give FHSU the lead before an Olivia Mortensen 3-pointer put the Tigers up 57-52 entering the fourth quarter.
The Goodland, Kan. native put the nail in the coffin in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 points on three field goals and 9-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line. Weeter drew 13 fouls in the game, finishing the night shooting 13-of-19 from the floor, 2-of-3 from behind the arc and 17-of-20 from the free-throw line. She added 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
The Tigers hit 59.3 percent (16-of-27) in the second half while they matched their season low with only nine turnovers.\
Brooke Loewe totaled 12 points and seven assists, while Mortensen scored 11 points alongside four blocks, the most by a Tiger in a game this season. Stearns recorded 10 points and three steals, giving the Tigers four in double figures for a fourth time this season.
Up next
The Tigers will wrap up a five-game homestand on Saturday when they host Missouri Western. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m., with the women to follow the men due to the men's game.