FHSU Athletics
MARYVILLE, Mo. - The sixth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team completed the season sweep of Northwest Missouri State on Saturday (Jan. 17), winning 60-46 on the road. The Tigers (16-1, 7-1 MIAA) limited the Bearcats (10-8, 3-5 MIAA) to a field goal percentage of 30.4 percent, their lowest against an MIAA team this season, while NWMSU's 46 points are tied for its fewest this year.
A pair of 3-pointers from Talexa Weeter and one from Avery Lowe helped the Tigers build a 19-13 lead by the end of the first quarter. Making her first career start, Mikayla Pilley gave the Tigers the lead for good with a layup four minutes in, sparking a 9-0 FHSU run.
Northwest pulled within two points midway through the second quarter, but six points from Weeter in a 34-second span propelled the Tigers to end the half on a 15-4 run, giving the Black and Gold a 38-25 advantage.
Olivia Mortensen opened the third quarter with a bucket, pushing the lead to a game-high 15 points. The Tiger defense was able to fend off any potential Bearcat run down the stretch, with FHSU maintaining a double-digit lead the rest of the way. Fort Hays State recorded a season-high seven blocks in the win, including three from Kaitlin Schumann and two from Mortensen.
All seven Tigers who played in the game hit at least one basket, with five of the seven knocking down at least one 3-pointer. Freshmen and sophomores combined to score 41 of FHSU's 60 points.
Weeter led the Tigers with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while also collecting seven rebounds and two steals. Lowe contributed a career-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, scoring in double figures for the fourth time in her career.
Schumann contributed 21 valuable minutes off the bench, matching or tying three career records with eight rebounds, two assists and three blocks while also adding nine points.
The Tigers hit 45.1 percent from the floor (23-of-51), including a season-high 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from behind the arc. FHSU won the rebound battle by two, 36-34.
FHSU's 16-1 start is tied for the third-best start in team history. The Tigers will look to extend their winning streak to 10 games next Thursday (Jan. 22) when they host Rogers State beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.