By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The No. 3 Fort Hays State women's basketball team held off a Southern Nazarene fourth quarter rally and beat the Crimson Storm 45-43 on the second day of the 2022 D2CCA Tip-Off Classic at Municipal Auditorium.
The Tigers (1-1) used a barrage of 3-pointers to build an 11-point lead midway through the second quarter. After Southern Nazarene (0-2) pulled within five at halftime, the Tigers built the lead back to 11 early in the third.
Southern Nazarene closed within four following the fourth-quarter media timeout before Wagner buried a 3-pointer to pad the lead to seven. The Crimson Storm scored seven in a row to close within one, but after Jessie Sallach hit one of two free throws, Wagner grabbed a rebound off a missed shot to seal the win.
Both teams got off to a slow start, combining for seven field goals in the opening period. The Crimson Storm led by as many as three before the Tigers scored the final five points of the frame to lead by two, 11-9.
Fort Hays State hit five-straight 3-pointers midway through the second quarter to grab the lead for good. Whitney Brown hit the first followed by three-straight from freshman Ellie Stearns. Katie Wagner buried the final 3-pointer of the 15-4 Tiger run, putting FHSU in front 27-16 with four minutes to play before halftime.
Stearns led the Tigers with 11 points, nine of which came in the second quarter. Wagner netted her third-consecutive double-double going back to last season and the 13th of her career, totaling 10 points and 13 rebounds. Jessie Sallach corralled 10 rebounds in the win, reaching double figures for the second time in her career as a Tiger. Emma Ruddle added six points while Sydney Golladay dished out a team-best four assists.
The Tigers were dominant on the boards, outrebounding SNU 50-37, including 18 offensive rebounds.
UP NEXT
Next up for the Tigers is a trip to South Dakota for the Courtyard Sioux Falls Tip-Off Classic, hosted by the University of Sioux Falls November 11-12. The Tigers will take on Augustana on Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m. before battling the host Cougars on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.