FHSU Athletics
TOPEKA, Kan. — Fort Hays State, ranked No. 3 in the latest WBCA Top 25 Poll, took its first loss of the season on Saturday by a score of 67-64 at Washburn. The Tigers moved to 7-1 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA, while Washburn moved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA.
The Tigers held a 19-12 lead after one quarter, but saw the Ichabods race back into the lead by halftime 35-32. Washburn extended its lead to 10 by the end of the third quarter and it was just a bit too much for the Tigers to overcome late after having a couple of opportunities to tie the game late.
Washburn took an initial 8-1 lead to start the game, only to see FHSU go on an 18-0 run and hold an 11-point lead of 19-8. That would be the Tigers' largest of the game. The Ichabods scored the final four points of the quarter as the Tigers took a seven-point lead to the second frame.
With the Tiger lead at 11 once again in the second quarter, Washburn went on an 8-0 run to get the lead down to just three. Moments later, the Ichabods used another 8-0 burst at the end of the quarter to go from five down to three up at halftime.
The Tigers pulled even early in the third quarter, but never led again in the game. An 8-0 run by Washburn late in the third quarter pushed its lead to 11, the largest it would hold in the game, and it eventually led by 10 at the end of the quarter.
With eight minutes to go in the game, the Tigers made a run at the Ichabods, going from eight down to just two down with 4:49 to play. The Tigers eventually made a 5-0 burst inside of three minutes to play with a pair of free throws from Talexa Weeter and a big 3-point field goal by Olivia Mortensen to tie the game with 44 seconds to go. However, the Ichabods responded on a Yiibari Nwidadah basket with 17 seconds remaining to regain the lead. The Tigers had three opportunities to draw even with the Ichabods in the final 10 seconds, but the late rally came up short and they fell by three points.
Weeter led FHSU with 28 points, hitting nine field goals and nine free throws. She also led in rebounds with nine, while Brooke Loewe had a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists. Mortensen finished with 11 points.
Nwidadah led the Ichabods with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. Gabi Giovannetti had 22 points and Britany Kogbara added 10.
Up next
Fort Hays State will host its first home game of the season next weekend on Saturday (Dec. 13) when it plays Pittsburg State is a battle of what could likely be a pair of top-10 ranked teams. The Gorillas were No. 8 in the latest WBCA Top 25 Poll. The game is a non-conference game, since the Tigers and Gorillas are slated to meet just once in MIAA play this year.