HAYS, Kan. - A balanced offensive attack and swarming defense helped the Fort Hays State women's basketball team dispatch of Sterling College with relative ease Saturday evening (Nov. 25), 90-48. The Tigers are now 5-0 on the year, while the game was treated as an exhibition for the 4-2 Warriors.
 
All 11 players to see the floor scored at least one point for the Tigers, with seven chipping in at least six. Tatyana Legette led the way with 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting while adding seven rebounds, three assists and four steals. Kacey Kennett added 14 points and seven rebounds, with Emma Stroyan (12), Carly Heim (11) and Whitney Clampitt (11) also scoring in double figures. Kyleigh Kasper nearly posted her first career double-double, scoring nine points while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.
 
The Tigers knocked down 46.1 percent from the floor (35-for-76) while holding the Warriors to a 37.7 shooting percentage (20-of-53). Fort Hays State forced 20 Sterling turnovers, creating 29 points off turnovers. The Tigers also dominated on the offensive glass, outscoring SC 32-4 in second chance points.
 
Fort Hays State opened the game with another strong first quarter, outscoring the Warriors 28-8 over the first 10 minutes of action. Stroyan scored eight points in just five minutes of play in the opening period, including a pair of free throws to open the scoring. After a Sterling layup tied things up at 2-2, the Tigers used an 18-0 run to set the tone for the evening. It was the longest such run for the Tigers so far this season. FHSU held the Warriors scoreless for six minutes thanks to an 0-for-9 spell and three turnovers. A layup from Belle Barbieri late in the quarter stretched the lead to 20, 28-8.
 
Sterling posted a better shooting percentage in the second quarter but was unable to close the gap thanks to a 6-for-6 effort from the free throw line from FHSU. Heim, Kennett and Whitney Randall all knocked down a pair of free throws to carry the Tigers to a 48-20 lead at the break despite just six made field goals in the quarter. A 3-pointer from Heim momentarily put the Tigers in front by 30 late in the half, 48-18.
 
The Tigers stretched the lead to 32 after three quarters of play, 67-35, before pouring it on in the final period. Tony Hobson's squad knocked down 10-of-19 shots from the field in the fourth quarter, including a 9-for-12 effort from inside the 3-point arc. Eight different Tigers scored in the final period. Kasper grabbed five of her rebounds in the final 10 minutes, including three on the offensive glass. A triple from Rolfs gave the Tigers a 43-point lead, 89-46, with 1:35 to play, their largest advantage of the game.
 
Fort Hays State will continue its five-game homestand Thursday (Nov. 30) when they host Missouri Southern to open MIAA play. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m.