FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team notched its second-consecutive 30-point conference victory Saturday, defeating the Washburn Ichabods 83-53. The Tigers improve to 9-0 to start the season and 2-0 in MIAA play, while the Ichabods dip to 4-6 overall and 0-2 in league action.
The Tigers never trailed in the contest after scoring the first nine points of the afternoon. Washburn finally got on the board four minutes into the game, but 3-pointers from Kate Dilsaver and Katie DeGarmo helped the home team stretch its lead to 22-7 by the end of the first quarter.
The FHSU defense kept the pressure on in the second quarter, limiting the Ichabods to five points and a pair of field goals. The Tigers were equally as impressive on the offensive end, knocking down 11-of-22 from the floor in the frame en route to a 48-12 lead at halftime. Washburn's 12 points before halftime are tied for the fewest allowed in a half by the Tigers during the Talia Kahrs era.
After scoring 17 in a row to end the first half, the Tigers stretched their lead as high as 43 midway through the third quarter on an Avery Lowe free throw. The Ichabods started to chip away at the lead against the FHSU bench over the final 12 minutes, trimming the final margin to 30 points.
Fort Hays State put together another balanced offensive attack with five players scoring in double figures for the second game in a row. Three additional players scored at least five points while 10 different players found the scoresheet in all.
DeGarmo led the way with 14 points alongside three assists and three steals. Dilsaver added 12 points, all in the first half, while dishing out a team-high six assists and adding three steals. Olivia Hollenbeck totaled 11 points, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks, with Brooke Loewe recording 11 points and three assists. Talexa Weeter notched 10 points, reaching double figures for a seventh-consecutive game.
The Tiger defense held Washburn to a shooting percentage of 32.8 percent (20-of-61), its lowest output of the year. The Ichabods turned the ball over 22 times leading to 21 Tiger points. FHSU scored 18 fast-break points in the win, its highest total against an NCAA DII team this season.
Fort Hays State knocked down 50.8 percent from the floor (33-of-65), the third time this season the Tigers have hit at least half of their shots in a game this year.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will return to action in 12 days when they travel to Hawaii for the Big Island Holiday Classic December 19-20. FHSU will play Truman State on Thursday the 19th beginning at 8 p.m. CT (4 p.m. HT) before battling Quincy on Friday the 20th at 10 p.m. CT (6 p.m. HT). FHSU will not play at home for one month when the Tigers host Nebraska-Kearney on January 7 at 5:30 p.m.