By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS, Kan. - The 18th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opened the third quarter with a 17-2 run and defeated previously unbeaten Northwest Missouri State 62-48 in their home opener Thursday.
The Tigers (7-0, 3-0 MIAA) held the Bearcats to a season-low shooting percentage of 31.6 percent and forced 14 turnovers thanks to eight steals.
After a back-and-forth first half, the Bearcats (7-1, 2-1 MIAA) closed the second quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 28-25 halftime lead. Olivia Hollenbeck converted a three-play on the Tigers first possession of the third quarter to tie the game. Following a Northwest basket, the Tigers scored the next 14 points and never trailed again.
Katie Wagner began the run with a jumper before Hollenbeck scored again in the paint, giving the Tigers the lead for good. Emma Ruddle scored on a driving layup on the next FHSU possession before Megan Earney drilled a 3-pointer to push the lead to seven, 37-30. Ruddle added another 3-pointer two possessions later before Hollenbeck knocked down a pair of free throws to end the run and put the Tigers up by 12, 42-30.
After hitting 80 percent from the floor in the third quarter (8-of-10), including a perfect 3-for-3 effort from behind the arc, the Tigers cooled off a bit in the fourth quarter, but the defense was stout. FHSU held the Bearcats to below 24 percent shooting in both the third and fourth quarters, combining for just seven field goals in the second half (7-of-30). The lead grew as high as 19 on a bucket from Wagner midway through the fourth.
Wagner led the Tigers with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Hollenbeck added 11 points to reach double figures in scoring for a sixth time against the Bearcats in six tries. Brooke Loewe scored eight points and added three assists off the bench, with Jessie Sallach adding six points and four rebounds. Ruddle, Earney, Sydney Golladay and Ellie Stearns all scored five points each, with Golladay matching the team lead with three assists.
The Tigers knocked 44.7 percent from the floor (21-of-47) and outrebounded the Bearcats by five, 35-30.
This season's seven-consecutive wins to start the year are tied for the fourth-best start to a campaign in program history. The Tigers will look to make it eight in a row Saturday when they host Missouri Western (5-3, 1-2 MIAA).