By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS, Kan. - The No. 19 Fort Hays State women's basketball team raced out to a quick start then overcame a cold shooting second quarter with stout defense and beat Washburn 70-45 Thursday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigers (15-3, 9-3 MIAA) never trailed in the contest while holding the Ichabods (11-7, 6-6 MIAA) to their lowest scoring output of the season.
FHSU scored the first seven points and led 20-5 with a little over two minutes to play in the first quarter. The Ichabods would answer with a 23-8 run and tied the game at 28-all late in the second quarter before Olivia Hollenbeck gave the Tigers a two-point halftime lead with a stick-back layup just before the horn.
The second half was all Fort Hays State. The Tigers outscored the Ichabods 40-17 after halftime, hitting 51.7 percent from the floor after the break (15-of-29), including a 4-of-8 effort from behind the 3-point line, while Washburn managed just six field goals in the second half (6-of-25, 24 percent).
The Tiger defense limited the Ichabods to three points in the third quarter, the fewest allowed by the Tigers in a quarter this season. WU shot 1-of-11 from the floor in the period and turned the ball over six times. FHSU grabbed nearly twice as many rebounds as the visitors in the frame, 13-7.
Washburn finished the game with 20 turnovers thanks to 13 Tiger steals. FHSU scored 19 points off those turnovers while scoring 16 points off 11 offensive rebounds.
Katie Wagner turned in her seventh double-double of the season and the 29th of her career, leading the team with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Emma Ruddle added 13 points and a team-high three assists, while Hollenbeck totaled 12 points and three steals. Kate Dilsaver scored six points after knocking down both of her shot attempts from behind the arc.
Fort Hays State will wrap up rivalry week on Saturday afternoon when the Tigers host Emporia State beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday will be the annual pink game for the team, with the team wearing pink jerseys and fans encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. It's also Senior Citizen Day at the Coliseum, with individuals 55 and older getting in for just $5.
FHSU Sports Information contributed to this story