Women’s Basketball Coasts Past Upper Iowa in Season Opener

FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team opened the 2016-17 season with a 26-point victory over Upper Iowa Friday afternoon inside MWSU Fieldhouse, topping the Peacocks 82-56. The Tigers used 19 offensive rebounds to create 22 second chance points, while limiting their opponents to just two second chance points. Tatyana Legette recorded the first double-double of her career, totaling 10 points while grabbing 14 boards.

It was the second-straight season FHSU has defeated the Peacocks in the season opener.

Fort Hays State knocked down 33-of-68 shots (48.5 percent), finishing with 42 points in the paint. The Tigers had an eye-popping edge in the rebound category, doubling UIU’s 24 boards with 48 of their own.

The Peacocks hung around for much of the first half, trailing by just five at halftime after finishing the first quarter tied, 15-15. A three-pointer from Taylor Chandler gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead three minutes into the game before UIU went on a 7-0 run to grab a 10-7 edge. Late in the quarter Legette made a steal and dropped in a layup after taking it coast-to-coast to take back the lead, 13-12. After an Upper Iowa three-pointer, Kacey Kennett tied the score at the buzzer with a put-back layup.

Chandler opened the second quarter with a layup, giving the Tigers the lead for good. A trey from Carly Heim following a Jill Faxon steal extended the lead to eight, 25-17. The Peacocks cut the deficit to two with one minute before the break, but a three-pointer from the top of the key for Sarah Pimentel gave the Tigers a 34-29 lead as the teams left for the locker room.

The Tigers turned up the pressure in the second half, outscoring Upper Iowa 48-27 while grabbing 20 more rebounds (30-10). UIU scored first in the third quarter to once again close within two before the Tigers used a 12-4 run to build the first double-digit lead of the game, 46-36, culminated by Legette putting back her own miss. The sophomore forward added two more buckets down the stretch, helping FHSU extend a 54-40 lead with one quarter to play.

Fort Hays State put the game on ice by knocking down 12-of-19 field goals over the last 10 minutes. The Tigers went on a 24-4 run over a span of six minutes, 19 seconds to build a game-high 30-point advantage, highlighted by three baskets from freshman Belle Barbieri.

Chandler led the team with 12 points, knocking down 4-of-6 shots while adding one assist, one block and one steal. Junior transfer Emma Stroyan blocked three shots in her FHSU opener, adding six points and seven rebounds. Taylor Rolfs knocked down a pair of three-pointers, tallying 10 points and three steals. Jill Faxon contributed seven points and five rebounds while Madison Mittie scored eight points in her collegiate opener.

The Tigers will return to the court Saturday afternoon (Nov. 12) when they face off with Southwest Minnesota State at 4:30 p.m.

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