NW Kansas News

A battle between the top two teams in the MIAA women's basketball standings lived up to the billing Saturday afternoon (Dec. 31), with 11th-ranked Central Missouri holding on to defeat Fort Hays State by one point, 63-62. The Tigers had a chance to win at the buzzer after holding the Jennies scoreless for the final three-plus minutes, but a corner 3-pointer in the waning seconds was off the mark.

The Tigers were battling from behind all afternoon after Central Missouri (10-0, 6-0 MIAA) scored the first five points of the game. Sydney Golladay got the Tigers (11-4, 6-1 MIAA) on the board with a 3-pointer before adding another triple two minutes later, ending a 6-0 Jennie run.

Jessie Sallach dropped in her second layup of the game in the final minute of the first quarter to close within three before UCM ended the frame with another basket, pushing the lead to 19-14 after 10 minutes of play.

The Tigers closed within two on four separate occasions early in the second quarter before a six-plus minute scoreless stretch allowed the Jennies to push their lead as high as nine. Golladay ended the drought with 35 seconds to go until halftime with her third 3-pointer of the half.

While the offense was unable to find a rhythm, the Tiger defense forced seven-consecutive missed shots by the Jennies over the final seven-plus minutes of the first half. UCM did all of its damage at the charity stripe, hitting 9-of-10 free throws to build a 34-26 halftime lead.

Sallach helped the Tigers close within one midway through the third quarter with six early points in the second half. The Jennies responded to a 6-0 Tiger run with seven-consecutive points of their own. Megan Earney broke up the run with a triple before Ellie Stearns poured in another 3-pointer just before the end of the quarter.

The Tigers outscored UCM 16-11 in the fourth quarter, but were never able to get over the hump and take the lead. The Jennies pushed their lead back to eight midway through the quarter and led by six with 3:10 remaining before the Tigers made one final push.

Sallach fought her way into the paint for her sixth bucket of the game with 90 seconds to go before Kate Dilsaver poked away a steal on the defensive end. Earney drilled a deep 3-pointer from the right wing with 38 seconds on the clock, helping the Tigers close within one. The Tiger defense forced the Jennies into a tough shot that was missed, giving FHSU its chance to steal the win that was ultimately missed.

The Jennies outscored FHSU at the line by nine, 21-12. Fort Hays State was whistled for 25 fouls, compared to just 19 on the Jennies.

Golladay finished the game with a career-high 17 points thanks to a personal-best four 3-pointers while adding a team-high five assists. Sallach tallied a season-high 13 points and led the Tigers with six rebounds.

Fort Hays State will wrap up its trip to the Show-Me State with a Monday matinee (Jan. 2, 1 p.m.) in Jefferson City, Mo. when the Tigers take on the Blue Tigers of Lincoln University. 

Original source can be found here.