From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Fort Hays State blistered the nets at a 60-percent clip and knocked off cold-shooting Pittsburg State 83-64 Thursday night in an MIAA women’s basketball game.
The Tigers (12-14, 8-11) hit 66 percent (19-of-29) while building a 47-29 halftime advantage and finished the game 31-of-52.
Forward Erica Biel scored 19 points on 9-of-9 sniping from the field and also grabbed 13 rebounds.
Guard Naomi Bancroft’s 20 points paced four Tigers in double figures. Morgan Clark, 6-of-9 from the floor, also posted a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Audra Binford had 15 points. The Tigers, the No. 7 seed in next week’s postseason tournament, overcame 23 turnovers, 15 more than the Gorillas.
The Gorillas (18-8, 13-6), meanwhile, shot only 28 percent from the floor (23-of-82, including 6-of-35 on 3-point attempts) and 50 percent (12-of-24) from the foul line.
The Gorillas maintained third place in the league standings and can clinch the No. 3 seed with a victory Saturday afternoon at Nebraska-Omaha. Should the Gorillas lose and finish in a tie for third with Central Missouri, the Jennies own the tiebreaker.
Nicole McCombs had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Gorillas, and Brianna Buchanan and DePrice Taylor each scored 10.
Fort Hays State men 65, PSU 59
Tim Peintner and Ryan Herrman logged double-doubles to lead the Tigers past the Gorillas.
Fort Hays State (19-7, 12-7) ends the season Saturday at Emporia State, with the winner earning the No. 3 seed in the postseason tournament.
Peintner finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Rob Igbawua with 14, Corbin Kuntzsch with 11 and Herrman with 10 points and 10 boards.
The Tigers, who trailed 35-32 at halftime, shot 46 percent from the floor compared to 38 percent for PSU, including only 27 percent (6-of-22) while being outscored 33-24 in the second half.
Rodney Grace and Carlos Taylor netted 16 points apiece for the Gorillas (10-16, 5-14), and Spencer Magana had 12.
