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Tiger women claim big win
1/10/2008
By CONOR NICHOLL
Hays Daily News
In eight seasons and 209 games as Fort Hays State University's women's basketball coach, Annette Wiles had never viewed a scene like Wednesday's pregame.
Led by seniors Meshia Mason, Sheena Kuntzsch and Brianna Willhite, the Tigers were pumped to play 10-1 Truman State (Mo.) University, the conference's best squad through the first week of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association schedule.
"They had this team jacked up and ready to play before the ball was in the air," Wiles said. "I think our locker room was as excited and as intense before a game as I have ever seen it."
The emotion yielded an impressive showing against the Bulldogs in a contest Wiles called a "must win." Fort Hays enjoyed its best offensive performance in a 91-72 victory at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigers erased a disappointing 67-50 loss at Northwest Missouri State University last Saturday and moved to 7-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference. Truman State, receiving votes in the latest Div. II poll, dropped to 10-2 and 2-1.
"I think that enthusiasm really transpired out onto the court," Wiles said.
Fort Hays set a season high in points and also controlled junior Georgia Mueller, the MIAA's Player of the Week. Mueller, second in the conference and ninth in the nation at 21.9 points per game, was in foul trouble early and finished with 15 points, her lowest against a Div. II team this season.
The senior trio helped the Tigers, who entered the game as the conference's worst offense at 64.2 points per game, score over 90 for the first time all season.
It marked the highest point total since the Tigers tallied 116 against Stephens College in the 2006-07 opener and marked the third time Fort Hays broke 90 in the last three years.
"We executed our game plan to perfection," Wiles said. "I think that it was one of those (where) we started making shots and it just built momentum. One player started making them and then the next and then the next. It was exciting to see that spread throughout the entire team."
Kuntzsch, the only player who ranks among the conference leaders in points, rebounds and steals, had another stellar game.
She finished with 25 points, the most by a Tiger all year, and tallied 10 boards for her -- and the team's -- second double-double this season. The 10 rebounds helped Fort Hays hold a 43-27 advantage on the glass.
Kuntzsch also collected five assists, three steals and swished a season-high five 3-pointers. In the post, Willhite outplayed Mueller, a returning first team all-MIAA player, with 21 points and three blocks.
Mason, the point guard, paced the offense with nine assists. She also became the fourth MIAA woman to record nine assists in a game this year and tied the conference single-game high. Overall, the Tigers finished with 28 assists, nine more than their previous season best.
"Give our seniors a lot of credit," Wiles said.
The defense also delivered a strong effort against the Bulldogs, the third-best scoring offense in the conference and No. 20 in the country.
Sophomores Erica Biel and Raychel Boling and Willhite shadowed Mueller underneath the basket and the guards limited the entry pass into the paint with help defense. Mueller, who had foul trouble in the first half, had six points at intermission and finished with 11 total shots, her lowest against a Div. II squad.
"We certainly wanted to collapse and cover her up so she couldn't get touches on the ball," Wiles said. "We felt like we kept the ball out of her hands. ... I thought we kept her in check."
On the perimeter, Kuntzsch and sophomores Naomi Bancroft and Erica Biel contained Truman's twins, seniors Candace and Carmen McGee, two players that Wiles called a "lethal combination to shoot the 3."
The duo finished with 21 points, but had nine at the half and scored the majority of thier points when Fort Hays held a significant lead.
"It was all about ball pressure and trying to do the best that we could to force them to have to extend their offense," Wiles said. "Again, the players really stepped to the challenge tonight. As many points as they did get, it still is a situation where we really put a great defensive effort together."
Fort Hays took an early 7-6 lead and was up by 17 at the half. After the break, Truman State closed it to within 14. However, seven second half 3s -- including four from Kuntzsch -- put the game out of reach. The Tigers shot a season-high 59 percent on 3s and were the first team to break 90 against the Bulldogs this year.
"We knew that we had a big challenge on our hands," Wiles said. "Give our players a lot of credit. We weren't going to back down from that challenge."
Sports reporter Conor Nicholl can be reached at (785) 628-1081 Ext. 127, or at
cnicholl@dailynews.net.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
| SB | 5/01 | Emporia State | L 11-0 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 14-1 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 12-2 |
