By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
MANHATTAN - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team overcame a slow start to battle toe to to with Kansas State in an exhibition game Monday night at Bramlage Coliseum, but the Wildcats used a 13-2 run to open the fourth quarter to propel them to a 74-63 win. The Tigers were within one to start the quarter but missed their first five shots and turned the ball over five times.
The Tigers fell behind 10-0 to start the game but quickly responded with a 14-2 run to take their first lead of the game on a corner three from Bradley transfer Sasha Koenig. A basket from Central Oklahoma transfer Clary Donica put the Tigers up 16-15 early in the second quarter.
K-State built an eight point lead at halftime which they increased to 14 a little over two minutes into the third, but the Tigers responded with a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to one.
Fort Hays State scored on six of seven possessions over the heart of the third quarter, including seven points from Kate Dilsaver. The Tiger defense forced seven-straight misses from the Wildcats and created one turnover during the three-minute, 43-second run.
Katie Wagner led the Tigers with 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists. Donica led the Tigers with 10 rebounds while adding seven points and two assists. Golladay led the team with five assists alongside five rebounds and three points. 13 different Tigers played in the game, with 11 of the 13 finding their way onto the scorebook.
K-State was led by Gabby Gregory with 22 points and nine rebounds.
The Tigers outshot K-State for the game, 38.7 percent to 37.9 percent. Each team collected 42 rebounds in the contest, with FHSU scoring seven second-chance points to eight for the Wildcats. FHSU outscored the Wildcats in the paint, 24-22, and off the bench, 30-13.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State and seven other top Division II teams from across the country will open the regular season this weekend at the 2022 D2CCA Tip-Off Classic inside historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Tigers will first play West Texas A&M, a national quarterfinalist from last season, on Saturday and before battling Southern Nazarene on Sunday, with both contests beginning at 1:30 p.m.
FHSU's home opener is set for Friday, November 18 against Minnesota State at 6 p.m.