FHSU Athletics
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Fort Hays State improved to 18-2 overall and 9-2 in the MIAA with a 74-64 win over Central Missouri on Saturday at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletic Center. The 8th-ranked Tigers led from start to finish, running their win streak against the Jennies to three-straight games while picking up a sweep of the regular season series between the teams. Central Missouri slipped to 13-10 overall and 5-7 in the MIAA. The victory gave Fort Hays State 1,000 wins overall, becoming the 12th school in NCAA Division II to reach the milestone.
Fort Hays State scored the first four points of the game and ran the lead out to 12 (22-10) by the end of the first quarter. Katie DeGarmo and Kate Dilsaver combined for 15 of FHSU's 22 points within the opening frame. The Jennies spread five baskets around to five different players all contributing two points.
DeGarmo hit a basket to open the second quarter, already reaching double figures while stretching the lead to 14. That would be the largest lead of the game for the Tigers as the Jennies started to chip away. An 8-0 UCM run cut the lead back down to six and a little later in the quarter a 5-0 burst had the lead down to just three (28-25) with 1:45 to go before the half. But, Dilsaver put a halt to the run with a free throw and then a steal and score to get the lead back to six. The Tigers went into halftime with a 33-27 lead. Both Dilsaver and DeGarmo had 10 points at the break.
For the remainder of the game, Fort Hays State's lead teetered between six and 12 points. The Tigers opened the second half just like the first with a 4-0 burst, all on points from Olivia Hollenbeck. The Tigers had an answer three times the Jennies brought the margin back down to six. A pair of 5-0 bursts took the lead back out to 11 twice and the Tigers eventually led by 10 going into the fourth quarter when Megan Earney splashed a 3-point field goal to make it 57-47 at the end of the third frame.
Fort Hays State eventually reached its largest lead of the second half, a 13-point margin, at the 1:34 mark of the fourth quarter on DeGarmo's final basket of the game. It capped off DeGarmo's third double-double of the season and 41st overall as she finished with a season-high 26 points and 11 rebounds. It was the third straight game she pulled down 11 boards.
The Tigers had three other players score in double figures. Hollenbeck and Dilsaver each had 12, while Brooke Loewe had 11. Dilsaver had a team-high four steals, while Loewe dished out a team-high seven assists. The Tigers got 64 of 74 points from their starters, while Weeter and Earney each had five off the bench.
The Jennies had three players score in double figures, led by Taylor Weishaar with 17. Reese Schaaf added 16 and Allie Clevenger had 11. Schaaf led the Jennies in rebounds with seven.
Fort Hays State is now in second place alone in the MIAA standings, still two games back of Pittsburg State which remained unbeaten in conference play at 11-0 with an overtime win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday. The Gorillas are now 19-2 overall.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will be at home for a pair of contests next week, playing host to Northeastern State on Thursday evening (Feb. 6) and then Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8).