FHSU Athletics
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Fort Hays State led for nearly 37 minutes before Missouri Western rallied late for a 68-66 win on its home floor on Thursday night. The Griffons slipped past the Tigers late for a second time this season, improving to 16-4 overall and 11-3 in the MIAA. No. 15 ranked FHSU moved to 16-4 overall as well and now 10-4 in the MIAA.
The Tigers had control of the game for a long time, and led by 11 entering the fourth quarter but could not put the Griffons away. Missouri Western hit 11-of-15 shots in the final frame including three 3-pointers and 6-of-7 free throws for 31 points.
Down eight in the final minute, the Tigers rallied within a point and had a chance to tie but Kate Dilsaver missed a free throw and couldn't finish off a 3-point play. After MWSU hit one of two free throws, the Tigers had a chance to tie but Katie Wagner missed a contested jumper just before the buzzer.
The Tigers built a 21-10 lead by the end of the first quarter, capped on a 3-pointer by Dilsaver just before the buzzer. They saw their lead grow to 15 in the second quarter at 30-15 and would eventually lead by 13 at halftime by a score of 34-21. The Tigers limited the Griffons to 32 percent shooting overall in the first half and forced 10 turnovers.
The Tigers scored the first basket of the second half to get their lead back to 15, but the Griffons made their first spurt at the Tigers with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to just seven about midway through the third quarter.
A 5-0 burst by Missouri Western coupled with a pair of Tiger turnovers to start the fourth quarter brought the Griffons within six with about 8:30 to play. Wagner snapped the run with a bucket, but the Griffons kept chipping away. The Tigers were back up nine on a 3-point play by Olivia Hollenbeck with six minutes to go, but MWSU used another 5-0 burst to get within four. The Tigers scored and then saw the Griffons have another 5-0 burst to get the lead to just one with 4:15 to play. Another Wagner bucket snapped the third burst, but Makenzie Hart would hit two critical shots in a row to give the Griffons the lead for the first time with about three minutes to play. Hart's buckets started a 13-2 run for the Griffons as they eventually led by eight with just under a minute to play.
Dilsaver hit a huge transition three for the Tigers to cut the margin back to five. Wagner instantly stole a bad pass and was able to lay it in to cut the margin to just three. The Tigers were nearly able to complete their frantic comeback effort when Sydney Golladay created another steal and Dilsaver was fouled while hitting a bucket. Unfortunately, Dilsaver's potential tying free throw rattled in and out, forcing the Tigers to have to foul. Hart hit one of two free throws for MWSU, leaving the door open for the Tigers to potentially tie or win, but a good look at the bucket in low fell off the mark as the Griffons found a way to hang on to their comeback win late.
Wagner finished with 30 points, just two shy of her season high, and recorded yet another double double, adding 10 rebounds. She was 10-of-21 from the field and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line. Dilsaver was the only other Tiger to notch double figures in points with 12, just one shy of her season high. Golladay dished out a game-high seven assists.\
The Griffons were led by Connie Clarke with 20 points, while Johnni Gonzalez scored all 12 of her points on a perfect 4-of-4 effort from 3-point range. Tianni Ellison provided 10 points off the bench.
Fort Hays State looks to get back on track Saturday (Feb. 3) against a solid Northwest Missouri State squad, which enters at 15-5 overall and 9-5 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.