FHSU Athletics
EMPORIA, Kan. - The seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team extended its winning streak to eight games with a 70-52 road win at Emporia State Thursday evening (Feb. 13). The Tigers (21-2, 12-2 MIAA) have now won six in a row against the Lady Hornets (9-15, 4-11 MIAA), the longest Tiger winning streak in series history, while FHSU has now won three in a row in Emporia for the first time in team history.
Olivia Hollenbeck led all scorers with 20 points in the win, helping the graduate student move into fourth on the all-time scoring list at FHSU with 1,797 points in her career.
Emporia State scored first and led for all of 11 seconds before Bailey Wilborn hit her first of three 3-pointers to put the Tigers on top for good. Hollenbeck added a pair of layups over the next two minutes, helping FHSU to a 9-0 run. The Tigers later led by as many as 10 before the Lady Hornets scored the final seven points of the quarter to close within three at the end of the period, 17-14.
The home team kept things close over the first five minutes of the second quarter before FHSU closed the frame on another 9-0 run, building a 32-20 lead at the break. Katie DeGarmo totaled nine points in the period, outscoring Emporia State by three in the frame. The Tiger defense held ESU to 2-of-14 shooting in the second quarter while forcing five turnovers.
Emporia State pulled within five after opening the third quarter on a 7-0 run before Hollenbeck scored seven in a row on her own to push the lead back to a dozen. ESU managed to pull back within seven later in the quarter before the visitors again closed the frame on a 9-0 run, building its lead to 16 points, 54-38.
The Tigers then scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to extend the run to 14-straight points and build a 22-point lead. Fort Hays State cruised the rest of the way, trading buckets with the Lady Hornets and leading by no less than 18.In addition to her 20 points, Hollenbeck adding eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. DeGarmo collected 13 points and 14 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the season and the 42nd of her career. The graduate student also added six assists, two steals and one block.
Brooke Loewe tied for the team lead with six assists, while Wilborn totaled a season-high 11 points. Kate Dilsaver also scored 11 points in the win after hitting 2-of-3 from behind the arc.
The Tiger defense held Emporia State to 52 points, tied for their lowest scoring output of the season. The Tigers turned the ball over just eight times compared to 16 Lady Hornet turnovers.
UP NEXT
FHSU's in-state road trip wraps up on Saturday when the Black and Gold makes its way to Wichita to take on Newman beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Tigers will then return to Hays for their final three home games beginning next Thursday when they host Missouri Southern beginning at 5:30 p.m.