ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western scored the first 14 points of the third quarter which was part of a bigger 19-1 run going back to the final two minutes of the second quarter and knocked off the 10th-ranked Fort Hays State women 75-58 Thursday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse, ending the Tigers nine-game win streak.
Kacey Kennett scored eight of Fort Hays State’s first nine points then hit a 3-pointer late in the quarter to give the Tigers (15-3, 6-3 MIAA) a 14-10 lead after one.
The Griffons opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run to take a four point lead. The Tigers would tie the game 22-22 with 2:53 to play in the quarter but trailed 27-23 at halftime.
Missouri Western State (14-3, 6-2 MIAA) pushed the lead to 18 over the first four minutes of the third.
Cydney Bergman scored the next 12 points for the Tigers as they closed the gap to 11 and trailed 52-41 after three quarters.
FHSU got as close as 10 early in the fourth but failed to scored on their next two possessions which would have pulled them within single figures.
The Griffons tough pressure defense held the Tigers to 31-percent shooting and 17 turnovers.
MWSU shot 56-percent and went 9-of-9 from the foul line despite being one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the MIAA.