FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The 8th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team picked up its sixth-consecutive win with a 76-60 victory over Northeastern State Thursday evening inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers (19-2, 10-2 MIAA) outrebounded the RiverHawks (10-11, 6-6 MIAA) by 26, 47-21, FHSU's largest rebound margin of the season.
After Brooke Loewe opened the scoring with a fast-break layup following a Katie DeGarmo steal, the visitors scored the next four points to take an early two-point lead. Fort Hays State responded by scoring the next 12 points to take the lead for good.
The Tigers hit 5-of-7 from the floor, including a 3-pointer from Bailey Wilborn and a pair of DeGarmo baskets, while the FHSU defense forced NSU into four-straight misses and created three turnovers.
DeGarmo added five more points in the final 90 seconds of the opening frame, finishing the first quarter with nine points compared to eight points for the entire NSU squad.
After hitting a blistering 71.4 percent (10-of-14) over the first 10 minutes, the Tigers cooled off a bit in the second quarter but still managed to outscore the RiverHawks by six, 17-11. Fort Hays State led by 21 at the break, 40-19, with the grad student duo of DeGarmo and Olviia Hollenbeck combining for 22 first-half points.The Tigers continued to methodically add to its lead in the third quarter, going up by as many as 27 before heading into the final quarter up by 24, 65-41. Northeastern State was able to outscore the Tigers by eight points in the final frame, 19-11, but FHSU's advantage proved too much to overcome.
Fort Hays State scored a season-high 20 second-chance points off a season-best 20 offensive rebounds, including seven offensive boards from Hollenbeck and five from Talexa Weeter.
Hollenbeck led all scorers with 22 points, eclipsing 20 points for the seventh time this season. DeGarmo also scored in double figures, totaling 15 for the game, while both Hollenbeck and DeGarmo collected a team-high nine rebounds. Loewe distributed eight assists in the win and tied Weeter with a team-best three steals.
The Tigers racked up assists on 25 of 30 made baskets. FHSU shot 46.9 percent from the field (30-of-64) and combined for 11 steals.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State will wrap up its short homestand Saturday (Feb. 8) when the Tigers host conference newcomer Arkansas-Fort Smith in the first-ever meeting with the Lions. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m.