KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Shaquanda Wiggins recorded a double-double, scoring 22 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, as No. 4 seed Central Missouri pulled away to defeat No. 5 Fort Hays State, 73-61, in the first round of the MIAA Centennial Women’s Basketball Championship Thursday afternoon at Municipal Auditorium.
In a game that featured three ties and eight lead changes, neither team led by more than four points until Fort Hays State went on an 8-0 run to take a 23-18 advantage with 7:54 to play in the first half.
The Tigers extended their lead to 28-21, their largest lead of the game, before Central Missouri battled back to make the score 33-29 in favor of Fort Hays State at halftime.
Central Missouri (20-7) came out strong with an 11-1 run to start the second half, kick started by a three-pointer by Taylor Hanson 14 seconds into the half, to give the Jennies a 40-34 advantage with 17:17 to play in the game.
Central Missouri would not give up the lead the rest of the game, but Fort Hays State kept it close throughout the majority of the second half.
The Tigers cut the Jennies’ lead to two at 44-42 on two Kimber Weiser free throws with 13:50 to play, but a 7-0 UCM run put the Jennies back up by nine (51-42) at the 11:46 mark of the second half.
Fort Hays State fought back once again with a 10-4 run of its own to trim the Central Missouri lead to 55-52 with 6:44 to play, but another run by the Jennies (14-4 over the next four minutes of play) put the game out of reach for the Tigers at 69-56 with just 2:06 left in the game.
Fort Hays State was led on the afternoon by Wesier with 13 points and four rebounds, as well as Traci Keyser with 13 points of her own to go along with three rebounds.
Nicole Caddell chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds for Central Missouri, while Alyssa Rhodes scored 14 points as well to go along with five rebounds.
Central Missouri moves on to face No. 1 seed Washburn in the semifinals Saturday at noon. Fort Hays State closes out its season with a 20-9 record overall.
– MIAA Media Relations –
Game Highlights:
FHSU Game Highlights
Coach and Player Post Game Interview Part 1:
Coach and Player Post Game Part 1
Coach and Player Post Game Interview Part 2:
Coach and Player Post Game Part 2