MARYVILLE, Mo. – The No. 6-ranked Fort Hays State University Tigers clinched the MIAA regular season championship with a 69-47 victory over the Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team in Bearcat Arena.
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Fort Hays State moved its season mark to 25-3 overall and 19-3 in MIAA play. Northwest fell to 17-11 overall and 12-10 in league action.
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FHSU's Olivia Hollenbeck tallied a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds. She also added four blocks and three assists.
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Northwest was led in scoring by
Molly Hartnett with 14 points.
Peyton Kelderman joined her in double figures with 11 points.
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Northwest held a 10-9 lead in the first quarter. FHSU closed the opening quarter on a 9-0 run to take an 18-10 advantage through the first 10 minutes.
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Northwest closed to within 24-23 with 5:34 to play in the half. FHSU limited Northwest to one made field goal in the final 5:30 of the half and the Tigers held a 33-26 lead at the break.
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The Tigers opened up an eight-point edge at 44-36 in the third.
Molly Hartnett scored a conventional three-point play with :00.3 left in the third to pull Northwest to within 46-41. Northwest out-scored FHSU in the third, 15-13.
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FHSU took control in the fourth quarter with a 23-6 scoring edge. The Tigers made 9-of-12 field goals, while Northwest made only two of 13 field goals in the fourth.
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Northwest will be the No. 6 seed for the 2022 MIAA Tournament set for March 2-6 in Kansas City at Municipal Auditorium. The final seedings and matchups will be set this evening by the MIAA office.
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NOTES:
Peyton Kelderman sank two three-pointers to extend her streak to 28 straight games with at least one three-pointer made … Kelderman has made at least two three-pointers in 20 of 28 games … Hartnett reached double-figure scoring for the 29th time in her career … Kelderman has scored in double figures 13 times this season …
Jayna Green blocked a shot to give her 41 on the season, which ranks tied for the sixth-most in a single season in Bearcat women's basketball history …
Kelsey Fields led the squad with eight rebounds … FHSU has won 15 of the last 16 meetings with Northwest.
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