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Tiger women sink SBU
2/21/2008
By RANDY GONZALES
Hays Daily News
After attempting a school-record 19 free throws Wednesday night, Tiger senior guard Sheena Kuntzsch still was practicing her form while talking with friends and family after the game.
Kuntzsch, a 76 percent shooter from the line, swished 12-of-19 free throws in the Fort Hays State University women's basketball team's 74-60 win over Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University in Gross Memorial Coliseum. The old record of 18 attempts was shared by Shanell Watson and Cassie Cordell in the 2003-04 season.
The Tigers shot just 64 percent from the line (25-of-39) Wednesday, but that was made bearable by posting the win.
"It's a situation of whether you win by two or 22, what's the difference," Fort Hays coach Annette Wiles said.
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association win kept the Tigers in the hunt for a berth in the conference's postseason tournament. Fort Hays (11-13 overall, 5-10 MIAA) is in a three-way tie for seventh with Truman State (Mo.) University and Missouri Western State University with three games remaining.
Kuntzsch posted her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, both game highs.
"Just family genetics, how competitive the kids are," Wiles said of Kuntzsch's athletic ability and her will to win. "She's an extremely competitive person."
The game was tied six times and had four lead changes. Fort Hays led 41-35 at the half before Southwest Baptist regained the lead on a basket by sophomore Rachel Graves to give the Bearcats a 48-47 advantage with 11:57 left in the game.
The Bearcats were up 52-47 midway through the second half before the Tigers went on the game-deciding run.
Fort Hays outscored Southwest Baptist 14-1 to take a 61-53 lead. Kuntzsch scored seven points in that span.
Southwest Baptist (18-6, 10-5) cut the deficit to six points with just over three minutes left, and appeared to have a turnover and a likely basket at the other end. But the loose ball hit an official in the leg, and the Tigers recovered.
Sophomore Kayla Klug then swished her only trey of the game to give Fort Hays a 64-55 lead.
With 42 seconds left and Southwest Baptist trailing 70-60, the Bearcats fouled Kuntzsch hard. Bearcat junior Cortney Shewmaker grabbed Kuntzsch by the shoulders and threw her to the floor, resulting in an intentional foul. Southwest Baptist coach Jim Middleton, upset with the call, calmly strode to midcourt, removed his sport coat and threw it to the floor, drawing a technical foul. Kuntzsch made 3-of-4 from the line for the intentional foul and technical foul.
Wiles said a key to the win was handling the Bearcats' press.
In losing 81-67 at Southwest Baptist last month, the Tigers committed 28 turnovers. They had 13 on Wednesday.
"I think handling their pressure, their full-court pressure," was key, Wiles said.
Senior forward Brianna Willhite added 19 points and seven rebounds, sophomore guard Naomi Bancroft scored 13 and grabbed nine rebounds, and Klug scored 11. Fort Hays outrebounded Southwest Baptist, 46-29.
Souza led four Bearcats in double figures with 15 points.
The Tigers have won two straight MIAA games at home after dropping four straight conference games on the road.
"Very exciting for our players," Wiles said. "They work so extremely hard."
Fort Hays travels to Kirksville, Mo., on Saturday to play Truman State.
Sports editor Randy Gonzales can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 137, or by e-mail at
rgonzales@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 |
