FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - Seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball put on a clinic Friday evening, defeating Chadron State 92-49 thanks to a school-record 69.8 percent effort from the floor (37-of-53). The Tigers (10-1) scored first and never looked back, leading by as many as 49 less than 25 minutes into the game.
The home team came out of the gates on fire, hitting 10-of-15 from the floor in the opening quarter while forcing six Eagle (0-9) turnovers in the frame. FHSU then turned things up a notch, hitting all 13 of its shots from the floor in the second quarter to push the halftime lead to 53-25.
After not missing a shot in the second quarter, FHSU kept things rolling out of the locker room, hitting eight of its first nine shots to score the first 21 points of the half. The 21-0 run is tied for the team's best scoring run under head coach Talia Kahrs. The Tigers were a perfect 4-of-4 from deep during the run, including two each from Olivia Mortensen and Ellie Stearns.
The run also included 10-straight points from Mortensen over a span of two minutes, with the freshman hitting a pair of triples and a pair of layups. The Broomfield, Colo. native finished the game with a career-high 27 points on 12-of-13 shooting while playing only 22 minutes.
The Eagles found their footing after calling a timeout, hitting 4-of-8 from the floor over the final five minutes of the period before outscoring the Tigers, 14-13, in the fourth quarter.
All 11 Tigers who played in the game scored at least one point, with four cracking double figures for the third time this season. Talexa Weeter racked up 22 points and seven rebounds, giving the Tigers multiple players with 20-plus points for the third time this season. Brittan Zeka poured in a trio of 3-pointers, totaling 11 points, while Stearns totaled 10 points.
Kaitlin Schumann matched Weeter with a team-high seven rebounds, while Brooke Loewe dished out 13 assists. It was the senior's sixth game with 10 or more assists this season, while only two other players in the country have multiple 10-plus assist games.
The Tigers hit 82.1 percent in the first half (23-of-28) and 75 percent (33-of-44) in the first three quarters before settling for the team-record 69.8 percent effort. FHSU outrebounded the Eagles 39-22 and scored a season-high 30 fast-break points.
Up next
Fort Hays State will return to conference play after the holiday break when the Tigers host Northwest Missouri State on New Year's Day beginning at 5:30 p.m.