FHSU Athletics
KEARNEY, Neb. - A school-record 17 assists from Brooke Loewe helped sixth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball rally past Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday, winning 84-73. The Tigers (13-1, 4-1 MIAA) trailed by 10 midway through the third quarter before hitting 15-of-19 from the floor and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line over the final 15 minutes to complete the comeback.
The lead changed hands five times in the opening quarter, with the Lopers (9-7, 2-3 MIAA) scoring 11 of the final 14 points to pull in front 23-17 after 10 minutes. 3-pointers from Talexa Weeter and Olivia Mortensen anchored a 10-0 Tiger run to put FHSU in front midway through the second quarter, 29-27.
The home team answered with an 11-2 run to go back on top by seven before a Weeter 3-point play made the score 38-34 at halftime. Fort Hays State pulled within one possession early in the second half before three quick Loper buckets pushed their lead as high as 10, 50-40.
The Tigers started their run after the third quarter media timeout, closing the stanza on a 14-4 run to tie things up at 54. Avery Lowe contributed nine points during the run, including her fifth 3-pointer of the season.
After hitting their final four shots of the third quarter, FHSU kept things rolling in the final frame, knocking down 73.3 percent from the floor (11-of-15) to pull away for the win. Ellie Stearns opened the quarter with a 3-pointer, giving the Tigers the lead for good. Mortensen later poured in her fourth triple of the game, pushing the lead to double figures midway through the frame.
A traditional 3-point play from Weeter built the lead as high as 14 points before the Tigers hit a perfect 6-of-6 from the line down the stretch to hang on for the win.
The Tigers hit 50.9 percent from the floor on the day (29-of-57), hitting at least half of their shots for the eighth time this season. FHSU also hit a season-best 90 percent (18-of-20) from the free-throw line.
Alongside her 17 assists, which are the most across all NCAA divisions this season, Loewe totaled eight points, three rebounds and three steals. It was her eighth game with 10 or more assists this season and the 14th-such performance of her career.
Weeter totaled 30 points and a team-high eight rebounds on 11-of-15 shooting, while Mortensen recorded 20 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc. Lowe racked up 11 points, her third double-digit performance of the season.
The Tigers will wrap up a stretch of four games in eight days on Thursday (Jan. 8) when they take on Emporia State on the road. First tip from White Auditorium in Emporia, Kan. is set for 5:30 p.m.