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FHSU women rally for 14th win
1/10/2012
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
At the 13:19 mark of the first half, Fort Hays State University center Kate Lehman checked into the game. Sixteen seconds later, Lehman missed a layup, and was pushed to the ground by Missouri Southern State University's physical, foul-heavy defense. As Lehman ran down the floor, FHSU assistant coach Carrie Hofstetter yelled at the freshman: "Be strong!"
Lehman, who has improved immensely in the last few weeks by extra work with Hofstetter, again made an adjustment. She played stronger and was one of several Tigers who stepped up in an 80-63 victory against the Lions on Monday at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
"I know if I don't be strong with it, I am going to get yelled at by her and (coach Tony) Hobson," Lehman said with a smile. "I would rather just be strong and not get yelled at."
Lehman finished with her second double-double of the season with 13 points and a career-best 13 rebounds in a foul-filled contest. As well, sophomore Katelyn Edwards, sick last week, was healthy and returned to her usual form with a career-best 24 points and 10 rebounds. It marked the most points scored by a Tiger this season and Edwards' fifth double-double.
"It was a good night to be a Kate on our team," Hobson said.
Mo. Southern, traditionally known for its tough defense, led the MIAA in personal fouls per game (18.6) entering the contest. Officials whistled the Lions for 29 fouls, 18 more than FHSU. At halftime, Southern had a 16-3 difference in fouls.
The Tigers made 30-of-42 free throws, while Southern finished 13-of-13 from the foul line. It's the most fouls and free throws any MIAA squad has had this season.
"I asked for an explanation," Southern coach Maryann Mitts said. "The explanation I got was that Fort Hays was going harder to the basket than we were and that we were giving up the baseline drive too much."
Fort Hays, receiving votes in the national poll, improved to 14-2, 6-2 MIAA. Missouri Southern, which has 10 straight winning seasons under Mitts, lost its sixth straight and dropped to 5-10, 1-8 MIAA.
"They are just trying to do anything possible to win a game, so their kids are trying to really battle and play hard and be physical and they just hope that the officials let it go," Hobson said. "They did get a lot of fouls called on them. They probably could have had 10 more called on them. We obviously could have had a couple too, but every time you drove and about every time you went in, you got hit. It was uneven, but I didn't think it was unfair."
Southern, paced by six first-half treys, led by 11 with 7:35 remaining in the first half.
However, Fort Hays, helped by Lehman, Edwards and junior guard Kaiameka Brown (14 points) went on a 15-0 run and led 37-36 at intermission. Lehman scored four points in the run, including a basket when she drew a foul and still scored.
"The refs did a really good job of calling fouls on them, which helped a lot," Lehman said.
Later, she received another push in the back, picked up a foul and made two free throws. As well, Brown and Edwards scored inside and on foul shooting. Early in the second half, FHSU, helped by a three-point play from Lehman, enjoyed a 15-2 burst to put the contest out of reach.
"You can tell these young kids how it's going to be against certain teams, but until they experience the actual action, they don't understand," Hobson said. "The first time (Lehman) got jacked in the back and just went down. From then on, she got a little lower. She slowed down in there and had a great game."
Fort Hays will travel to Pittsburg State University, undefeated and ranked No. 13 nationally, on Saturday.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |