Jan 25, 2020

Solid second half lifts 10th-ranked FHSU women past NW MissourI State

Posted Jan 25, 2020 10:25 PM

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Fort Hays State outscored Northwest Missouri State 17-6 over the first six-plus minutes of the third quarter to turn a seven-point halftime deficit into a six-point lead and beat the Bearcats 70-59 Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Arena.

The 10th-ranked Tigers (16-3, 7-3 MIAA) overcame 32-percent shooting in the first half by going 12-of-24 in the second half and 21-of-22 from the free throw line after halftime.

FHSU used a 9-0 first quarter run to turn a five-point deficit into a four-point lead but Northwest (8-10, 3-6 MIAA) responded with a 17-5 run to go up eight with 2:19 to play in the second quarter. The Bearcats, who have lost five straight, led 32-25 at halftime.

The Tigers built their biggest lead of the game at 56-45 with 7:42 to play in the fourth quarter but the Bearcats closed the gap to five with 1:28 left. FHSU scored the final six points of the game from the free throw line to push the lead back to 11.

Jaden Hobbs scored 17 of her game-high 22-points in the second half including 10-of-11 from the free throw line.

Kacey Kennett went 10-for-10 from the foul line and scored 16. It's the  most makes without a miss for a Tiger in nearly five years. Taylor Rolfs added 15 points.

FHSU didn’t make a 3-pointer in the final three quarters and finished 2-of-17 from beyond the arc.