ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The fourth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team picked up another victory on opening weekend, defeating Sioux Falls 82-73 on Saturday (Nov. 13) at the Hillyard Women's Basketball Tip-Off Classic.
Second-year freshman Katie Wagner led the Tigers in scoring for the second game in a row, posting career highs with 26 points and 15 rebounds. It was the first 15-15 game for a Tiger since Tatyana Legette almost four years ago (17p, 15r vs. Newman, 11/18/17).
The Tigers (2-0) have yet to find themselves behind in a contest this season, taking the lead two minutes into the game on a Whitney Randall free throw and never looking back. The Tigers scored the first six points in the contest thanks to an early Lauren West 3-pointer and a layup from Olivia Hollenbeck. Fort Hays State later led by as many as seven before going into the second quarter in front by four, 14-10.
Fort Hays State hit 62.5 percent from the floor (10-of-16) in the second quarter to begin to pull away, leading by as many as 14 while taking an 11-point advantage into the locker room, 37-26. USF (0-2) closed within two early in the frame before the Tigers went on a 14-2 run. West capped off the run with another triple, putting FHSU in front 30-16 with 5:31 to go before halftime.
The teams traded runs in the third quarter, with Sioux Falls closing within six on multiple occasions before the Tigers padded the advantage back to double figures. The Cougars closed within five points two different times in the final frame, but Wagner helped the Tigers secure the win after scoring 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a 5-of-5 effort from the free-throw line in the final frame.
Fort Hays State hit 57.1 percent from the floor (32-of-57), the top shooting effort by an MIAA team so far this season. The Tigers outrebounded the Cougars by seven, 35-28. Four players had at least three assists for the Tigers, including Wagner (four), Randall (four), West (three) and Kate Dilsaver (three). Hollenbeck added 16 points, while Randall added 15 for the Tigers.
Megan Fannin led the Cougars with 26 points behind five 3-pointers.
The Tigers will play inside Gross Memorial Coliseum for the first time this season next weekend (Nov. 19-20) when FHSU hosts a four-team classic. FHSU will play St. Cloud State Friday at 6 p.m. before facing off with Cameron Saturday at 4 p.m. Newman will also be in Hays, facing off with the Huskies and Aggies in reverse order two hours before the scheduled FHSU tip-off.