The Missouri Western women’s basketball team shot just 27.9-percent (17-61) on Saturday afternoon in a 70-48 loss against the Fort Hays State Lady Tigers. Jessica Koch dumped in a game high 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting as the Griffons fall to 2-6 overall and 0-4 in MIAA play.
Western made just 7-of-24 field goal attempts and 3-of-9 long range shots in the first half. Western got out rebounded by 18 (30-12) in the frame giving up twelve second chance points. The Griffons also had zero bench points to the Lady Tigers 12 heading to the locker room down 27-21.
Koch led all scorers with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting while the Tigers were led by Katelyn Edwards with eight points and seven rebounds. The Tigers also struggled shooting the ball making just 10-of-33 field goals and 2-of-9 long range shots.
The Lady Tigers opened the second half on a 14-4 run building a 16 point lead at 41-25 after two free throws by Melissa Nelson. Western fought back with a 7-2 run cutting the Lady Tiger lead to 11 at 43-32 after a Koch layup with 12:31 to play.
Fort Hays responded once again outscoring the Griffons 13-4 the next four minutes claiming a 20 point lead at 56-36 with 8:28 to play. Western was able to cut the lead back down to 12 with 4:24 to play after a Koch three pointer but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Tigers improve to 8-1 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play.
Western, the MIAA’s leading free throw shooting team made just 8-of-14 free throws and was out rebounded 57 to 33 with the Lady Tigers scoring 11 more second chance points than the Griffons. Brittany Griswold was the only other Griffon in double digit scoring dumping in 10 points while Kallie Schooover led Western with seven rebounds.
Fort Hays State shot 34.8-percent (23-66) from the floor and made 15-of-17 free throw attempts. They connected on 9-of-24 long range shots with seven coming in the second half. Nelson led the scoring with 15 points while Edwards finished with a double-double scoring 14 points and snaring 11 rebounds.
Western travels to Topeka, Kan. on Saturday, December 17 to take on the 15th ranked Washburn Lady Blues in their last MIAA action of the 2010 season. Game time is set for 5:30 pm from Lee Arena. If you can’t make the game listen to all the action on 680 AM KFEQ.
— MWSU Sports Information —