FHSU Athletics
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Third-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter and led by as many as 11 in the first half before Augustana stormed back in the second half, outscoring the Tigers by 12 points after the break to win by three Friday evening in the opener of the Courtyard Sioux Falls Tip-Off Classic, 62-59.
The Tigers (1-2) hit 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter and better than 40 percent in the fourth quarter, but a field-goal percentage of 25 percent across the second and third quarters gave the Vikings (1-0) the chance to fight in front.
True freshmen Brooke Loewe and Ellie Stearns helped the Tigers take control in the first quarter, with each scoring six of FHSU's 19 points. Loewe buried both of her attempts from behind the arc while Stearns hit one triple before converting on a 3-point play. The Tiger defense poked away four steals while holding Augustana to 28.6 percent shooting in the opening period, giving FHSU a 19-12 advantage after 10 minutes.
After Kate Dilsaver opened the second quarter with a bucket to build the lead to nine, the Vikings went on an 8-0 run to close within one, 21-20. FHSU broke out of the funk midway through the period, scoring 10 in a row to pull in front by double digits. Sydney Golladay opened the run with a jumper before Jessie Sallach hit off a pass from Stearns. Megan Earney followed with a 3-pointer on the following possession after another assist from Stearns before free throws padded the lead to 11.
Augustana hit the final bucket before halftime, closing within 31-22, before limiting the Tigers to 21.4 percent shooting in the third quarter and countering with a 46.7 percent shooting effort to close within one possession. The Tigers led by two entering the final quarter, 41-39, but Augustana scored the first seven points of the final frame to take the lead for the first time all afternoon.
Another Loewe 3-pointer thwarted the Viking run and a jumper from Stearns tied things up at 46 with just under six minutes to play, but Augustana responded with a triple of their own on the very next possession to take the lead for good. FHSU stayed within one possession until the two-minute mark when another Viking 3-pointer and a layup off a turnover gave Augustana a seven-point lead. Whitney Brown scored five points down the stretch for the Tigers to make it a one possession game, but her final points came with just one-tenth of a second remaining on the clock.
Brown led the Tigers with 12 points after hitting a trio of 3-pointers, with Loewe also adding three triples and nine points. Olivia Hollenbeck scored nine points, all in the second half, while adding five rebounds and two blocks. Michaela Jewett led the Vikings with 23 points on five 3-pointers.
The Tigers hit 35.7 percent from the floor for the game (20-of-56), just below Augustana's output of 38.3 percent (23-of-60). FHSU hit eight from behind the arc and only missed one free throw, going 11-for-12 from the stripe. The Tigers outscored Augustana off the bench, 28-8.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State wraps up the weekend Saturday afternoon against the Sioux Falls Cougars beginning at 3:30 p.m.