The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team scored the games first 14 points, holding Tabor scoreless for the first six minutes and roll to a 93-34 victory Wednesday night in their home opener at Gross Coliseum.

The Tigers shot 54-percent in the first half and led 54-14 at halftime.

Kate Edwards was the only Tiger to reach double-figures, scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds. Traci Keyser and freshman Keriann Shaw both scored nine while Kelsie Sorenson and freshman walkon Christine Russell both add eight. 14 Tigers logged 10 or more minutes in the game with all 15 scoring. Crista Bechard dished out a game-high six assists.

FHSU held Tabor to 12 field goals for the game and outrebounded the Bluejays 49-22 and pulled down 27 offensive rebounds.

The win improves the Lady Tigers to 3-0. They return to action Friday at 5:30pm against Central Christian then host Northwestern Oklahoma State Saturday at 7pm.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview
Tony Hobson Postgame 11-16-11

Kate Edwards Postgame Interview
Kate Edwards Postgame 11-16-11

Game Audio Highlights
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The Fort Hays State Tigers hit 10 of their final 12 shots in the first half to build a 21-point halftime lead and go on for an 85-50 win over Bethany College Tuesday night at Gross Coliseum.

The Tigers shot 57-percent in the first half despite missing 10 straight 3-point attempts, and finish hitting 50-percent from the floor for the game.

Karron McKenzie led three Tigers in double-figures with a career-high 17 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and had six steals. Tyrone Phillips added 13, 11 coming in the first half. Kendrick Morse scored 12. Matt Simmons set a new career-high with 17 rebounds.

The Tigers shoot 50-percent for the game but were just 10-for-33 from 3-point range and hit only 5-of-13 free throws.

Fort Hays State is back at home Friday against Central Christian.

 Mark Johnson Postgame Interview
coach

Karron McKenzie Postgame Interview
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Game Highlights
highlights

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Washburn’s Dane Simoneau (offense), Pittsburg State’s Nate Dreiling (defense) and Missouri Western’s Greg Zuerlein (special teams) were named MIAA Players of the Year to headline the all-conference team released by the league office Tuesday. The selections were made by the league’s 10 head coaches, and coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

Simoneau was selected as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year after tying for the league lead with 34 touchdown passes. The senior from Salina, Kan., finished second in the league in passing yards (3,449), passing efficiency (155.1) and total offense (3,440 yards). He ranks third all-time in MIAA career passing yards with 10,651, and is also third in MIAA career total offense with 10,526 yards. Simoneau was an All-MIAA First Team selection as well.

Dreiling was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year after a season in which he finished third in the league in both tackles (93) and interceptions (five), and tied for fifth in the conference in both passes defended (nine) and fumbles recovered (two). The sophomore from Hutchinson, Kan., was also a unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection.

Zuerlein is the unanimous MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the conference in field goals made (20) and field goal percentage (95.2). The senior from Lincoln, Neb., led all MIAA kickers with a 10.7 points per game scoring average. He is currently on a streak in which he has made 18 consecutive field goals, an MIAA record. For the year, he is a perfect 5-for-5 from 30-39 yards, 3-for-3 between 40-49 yards and 6-for-6 from 50+ yards, including a 58-yarder. Zuerlein was a unanimous pick for All-MIAA First Team as well.

Northwest Missouri defensive back Bryce Enyard was voted the MIAA Freshman of the Year after finishing second in the league with six interceptions, including one returned 59 yards for a touchdown. The Huntsville, Mo., product was also selected All-MIAA Second Team.

Pittsburg State head coach Tim Beck was the unanimous pick for MIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Gorillas to the 2011 MIAA Championship, their first league title since 2004 and 11th MIAA crown since joining the conference in 1989. It is the first conference coach of the year honor for Beck, who is in his second season as Pittsburg State head coach.

Missouri Western had the most first team selections with five, followed by Pittsburg State and Central Missouri with four apiece, Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri and Washburn with three each, Fort Hays State with two and Emporia State with one.

 2011 ALL-MIAA FOOTBALL TEAM
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dane Simoneau, Sr., QB, Washburn 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nate Dreiling, So., LB, Pittsburg State

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Greg Zuerlein, Sr., K, Missouri Western

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Bryce Enyard, DB, Northwest Missouri

COACH OF THE YEAR
Tim Beck, Pittsburg State

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Dane Simoneau, Sr., Washburn
RB: Michael Hill, Jr., Missouri Western
RB: Justin Cooper, Sr., Washburn
WR: Landon Zerkel, Jr., Missouri Southern
WR: Jamar Howard, Sr., Central Missouri
TE: David Cannon, Jr., Central Missouri
OL: Macon Allan, Jr., Missouri Western
OL: Cody Johnson, Sr., Northwest Missouri
OL: Brian Folkerts, Sr., Washburn [r1]
OL: Logan Freeman, Jr., Central Missouri
OL: Ian Saxton, Sr., Missouri Southern
K: Greg Zuerlein, Sr., Missouri Western**
KR/PR: John Brown, So., Pittsburg State

**Unanimous Selection
[r1] – Repeat first team selection from last season

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Brandon Williams, Jr., Missouri Southern** [r1]
DL: Josh Lorenson, Sr., Northwest Missouri** [r1]
DL: David Bass, Jr., Missouri Western
DL: Gus Toca, Jr., Pittsburg State
LB: Chad Kilgore, Sr., Northwest Missouri** [r1][r1]
LB: Nate Dreiling, So., Pittsburg State**
LB: Alex Whitehill, Sr., Fort Hays State
DB: Marlon Douglas, Sr., Central Missouri [r1]
DB: Derek Lohmann, Jr., Emporia State
DB: Elijah Olabode, Sr., Pittsburg State
DB: Shane Simpson, Jr., Missouri Western
P: Ethan Kosjer, Sr., Fort Hays State

**Unanimous Selection
[r1] – Repeat first team selection from last season
[r1][r1] – Repeat first team selection from the last two seasons

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Zac Dickey, Sr., Pittsburg State
RB: James Franklin, So., Northwest Missouri
RB: Jordan Simmons, Jr., Northwest Missouri
WR: John Brown, So., Pittsburg State
WR: DeJuan Beard, So., Washburn
TE: Kyle Kilgore, Sr., Northwest Missouri
OL: Cody Holland, So., Pittsburg State
OL: Kell Smalley, Sr., Pittsburg State
OL: Rod Williams, Jr., Northwest Missouri
OL: Lance Uhles, Jr., Emporia State
OL: John “Hawk” Rouse, Jr., Fort Hays State
K: Todd Adolf, Jr., Northwest Missouri
KR/PR: Jordan Simmons, Jr., Northwest Missouri

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Dakota Palan-Johnson, Sr., Washburn
DL: Spencer Worthington, Sr., Pittsburg State
DL: Ben Pister, Jr., Missouri Western
DL: Kenny Smith, Jr., Missouri Southern
LB: Bryce Atagi, So., Washburn
LB: Jahmil Taylor, Jr., Washburn
LB: Luke Stringer, Sr., Pittsburg State
DB: Richie Schumacher, Jr., Truman
DB: Casey Curran, Sr., Washburn
DB: Marty Pfannenstiel, Sr., Washburn
DB: Jack Long, Sr., Missouri Western
DB: Bryce Enyard, Fr., Northwest Missouri
P: Eric Phillips, Jr., Truman

[Note: Ties in voting created an additional spot at DB]

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Tommy Corwin, Sr., QB; David Bax, Jr., DL; Patrick Lewis, Jr., DB; Aaron Jamieson, Jr., K; Matt Jordan, Jr., P; Taylor Dyer, Sr., WR

Emporia State: LaDarrian Page, Sr., RB; Shjuan Richardson, Jr., WR; Adam Schiltz, Jr., TE; Kennedy Ezimako, Sr., DL; Ben Carlson, Jr., LB; Tyler Eckenrode, Jr., QB

Fort Hays State: Andre Smith, Jr., RB; Casey Sorrell, Sr., OL; Kyle Perry, Jr., DL; Korey Allison, Sr., DB; Kedron Paul, Jr., DB; Lamar Leon, Sr., OL

Lincoln: Corderious Gregory, Sr., WR; O’Hara Fluellen, Sr., DB; Justin Campbell, So., OL; Vonques Knox, Fr., DL; Fred Fuller, Jr., KR/PR

Missouri Southern: Ne’Ronte Threatt, Jr., WR/KR/PR; Austin Lepper, So., TE; Brian Rodgers, Jr., DB; Ryon Phillips, Fr., DL; Collin Howard, Sr., QB; Alex Wong, Jr., LB

Missouri Western: Travis Partridge, So., QB; Tarrell Downing, Jr., WR/KR/PR; Colt Schulte, Jr., OL; Brian Chiles, Jr., OL; Austin Baska, So., DL; Tom Madget, Sr., LB; Jeremy Weston, Jr., DB; Ben Jackson, Jr., DB; Scott Groner, So., P

Northwest Missouri: Tyler Shaw, Jr., WR; Jake Soy, Sr., WR; David Mosley, Sr., WR; Taylor Pierce, Sr., WR; Aaron Terry, Sr., DL; Blake Christopher, Sr., QB

Pittsburg State: Nick Pugh, Jr., OL: J.R. Jones, Sr., DL; Jon Thomas, Sr., WR; Briceton Wilson, Jr., RB; Chase McCoy, Sr., K; Chas Smith, Jr., S

Truman: Anthony Brown, Sr., WR; Blake Holland, Jr., OL; Patrick Blackwell, Jr., DL; Wade Pelc, Jr., LB; Derek Koon, So., K; Dallas Grier, So., WR

Washburn: Gregory Schoenberg, Sr., FB; Tore’ Hurst, So., TE; Kyle Duncan, So., OL; Jayveri Kelly, Jr., DL; Steve Dieckhaus, Jr., OL; Ian Williams, Sr., DL

– MIAA Media Relations –

The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team opened the 2011-12 season on Saturday night (Nov. 12) at the St. Mary’s Classic in San Antonio, Texas. Facing tournament host St. Mary’s (Texas), the Lady Tigers led by two after a sluggish first half and pulled away and never trailed in the second half on their way to the season opening 70-60 win.

Both teams struggled offensively, but St. Mary’s still managed to shoot a better field goal percentage (45.5% to 43.5%) and outrebound (35 to 32) the Lady Tigers, but FHSU used a big advantage at the free throw line to get the victory. Fort Hays State hit 26-of-41 attempts (63.4%) from the stripe, while the Rattlers hit just 12-of-25 (48.0%).

Crista Bechard was one of five players for Fort Hays State to score in double figures with a game-high 16 points. She was 4-for-8 from the field and hit 7-of-10 shots from the free throw line. Traci Keyser and Melissa Nelson had 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Katelyn Edwards and Keriann Shaw each added 10.

Fort Hays State opens the season 1-0 and will face No. 20 Tarleton State on Sunday (Nov. 13) at 1:00 pm.

– FHSU Sports Information –