FHSU Athletics
EDMOND, Okla. - A big second half helped 11th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball rally past Central Oklahoma on Saturday, with the Tigers defeating the Bronchos 81-72. The Tigers (16-2, 7-2 MIAA) trailed by as many as nine with 17 minutes left in the contest before Fort Hays State outscored UCO (4-15, 3-7 MIAA) by 18 down the stretch to secure their seventh-straight road win over the Bronchos and 11th consecutive win in the series overall.
Fort Hays State struggled in the opening quarter for the second game in a row, with the Tigers hitting just 27.8 percent from the field (5-of-18). The Tigers still managed to put up 16 points in the frame, however, thanks to 3-pointers from Kate Dilsaver, Brooke Loewe and Ellie Stearns and a perfect 3-for-3 effort from the free-throw line in the frame.
Central Oklahoma scored the first four points before FHSU rattled off 11-straight points, taking a seven-point advantage. The home team responded with a 13-2 run to go back up four, but Loewe hit a 3-pointer just before the end of the period to pull FHSU within 17-16.The back-and-forth affair continued into the second quarter, with the lead changing hands four more times. Fort Hays State went into the locker room behind on the scoreboard for just a third time this season, trailing 35-32 at the break.
The Bronchos charged out of the locker room with an 8-2 run, scoring on four of their first five possessions to push their lead to 43-34. A pair of Olivia Hollenbeck layups helped the Tigers slowly chip away at the lead before Central Oklahoma drilled a 3-pointer leading into the third quarter media timeout, putting UCO back up seven, 47-40.Fort Hays State responded with a 13-point run, turning a seven-point deficit into a six-point lead. The Tigers hit 6-of-8 from the floor during the run while forcing the Bronchos to miss three shots and turn the ball over three times.
Talexa Weeter helped the Tigers close within one possession with a layup before Hollenbeck hit a stick-back layup through contact and buried the ensuing free throw to tie the score with three minutes left in the third quarter. Katie DeGarmo put the Tigers back on top with a jumper on the next possession.
The Tigers later led by as many as six and led by four at the end of the third quarter, 58-54, before the Bronchos twice rallied to tie the score early in the final frame. Fort Hays State put the game on ice with a 19-4 run, with the Tigers hitting 9-of-12 during the run while limiting the Bronchos to just 2-of-13 from the floor. DeGarmo scored nine points during the six-minute stretch, with Weeter adding six.
Fort Hays State led by as many as 15 late in the game before the Bronchos scored eight points in the final minute to claw back within single figures. The Tigers totaled 49 points in the second half, tied for their highest scoring second half of the season.
Weeter led all scorers with 23 points, with the sophomore pacing FHSU in scoring for a fifth time this season. Hollenbeck totaled 22 points, four blocks and three steals, giving the Tigers a pair of 20-point scorers for a third time this season.
DeGarmo added 17 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and the 40th of her career. The Maize, Kan. native also dished out six assists and added two steals. Loewe distributed seven assists and added seven points, while Dilsaver totaled seven points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Each team collected 41 rebounds in the contest, with UCO racking up a season-high 16 offensive rebounds. The Tigers dominated scoring in the paint, outscoring the Bronchos 46-28 under the basket.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State will be on the road again next weekend when the Tigers travel to Topeka, Kan. to battle Washburn on Thursday (Jan. 30) beginning at 5:30 p.m.