FHSU Athletics
DENVER - A dominant second half helped the fourth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team rally past MSU Denver Wednesday afternoon, winning 88-73. The Tigers (6-0) trailed by as many as nine in the first half but hit 52.6 percent from the floor (20-of-38) and forced 12 Roadrunner (1-5) turnovers after the break to storm back.
Both sides shot the ball well in the first half, with MSU Denver hitting 50 percent of its shots (18-of-36) and FHSU burying 48.6 percent (18-of-37). But nine Tiger turnovers and an 8-2 discrepancy in free throw attempts helped the Roadrunners build a 45-39 lead at the break. Mikayla Pilley and Brittan Zeka both contributed big minutes in the first half, with Pilley totaling six points and Zeka chipping in six rebounds and two assists before intermission.
An Ellie Stearns 3-pointer and five points from Avery Lowe helped the Tigers open the second half on an 8-2 run, tying the score at 47. Talexa Weeter then knocked down six-straight shots, scoring 11 in a row for the Tigers to put FHSU on top for good. After shooting 25.0 percent (3-of-12) from the floor and totaling six points in the first half, Weeter buried 8-of-9 shots in the third quarter, racking up 18 points in the frame.
Stearns knocked down three more triples in the fourth quarter, helping the Tigers push the lead to double figures midway through the frame where it would remain for the rest of the night.
The Tigers collected 16 offensive rebounds, turning those boards into 18 second-chance points. FHSU scored 27 points in transition and recorded 62 points in the paint while dominating on the boards, outrebounding MSU Denver by 19, 47-28.
Weeter finished the game with 34 points, including 28 in the second half alone. Stearns poured in six 3-pointers en route to a career-best 20 points. Brooke Loewe distributed 14 assists in the win, matching the school record that she set just four days ago.
Olivia Mortensen totaled nine points, seven rebounds and four steals, while Pilley added eight points and two assists. Lowe recorded seven points, five rebounds and three assists, with Kaitlin Schumann adding four points on 2-of-2 shooting.
Up next
Fort Hays State will return to action in a little over one week when they head to Warrensburg, Mo. to open conference play against Central Missouri on Thursday, December 4 beginning at 5:30 p.m.