St. Cloud State
24-5,19-2NSIC
Fort Hays State University
30-3,19-3Mid-America Intercollegiate
#16 Huskies historic season ends in NCAA Regional semifinal
3/12/2022 10:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
St. Cloud State falls to top-seeded Fort Hays State 59-55
HAYS, KANSAS – It was a special season for the St. Cloud State University women's basketball team. First Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) regular title since the 1980s. Another trip to both the NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament and NCAA Regional. The first NCAA Tournament win since 2005-06. Despite the #16 Huskies best efforts, their historic 2021-22 season came to an end Saturday evening, as they fell to #4 Fort Hays State in the NCAA Regional Semifinal by final score of 59-55. With the loss, St. Cloud State concludes the year with an overall record of 24-5 and a 19-2 mark in NSIC play.
HAYS IN THE BARN
Defense was the name of the game Saturday night in Hays, Kansas, which was apropo, considering the last meeting between these two teams. Only two baskets were scored in the opening three minutes, as the Huskies and Tigers defenses dominated both inside and on the perimeter. When the two teams did manage to score, they matched each other shot for shot, with St. Cloud State holding a slim 7-5 advantage at the first media timeout of the game. It was Fort Hays, though, that held the advantage by the end of the first quarter, leading the Huskies 14-12 after the opening 10 minutes of play.
St. Cloud State did need to overcome some adversity in the second, as the team was forced to play without leading-scorer Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) for most of the quarter. The fifth year senior was called for her second foul late in the first, forcing head coach Lori Fish to swap out Wortz for sophomore Morgan Draheim (Hortonville, Wis. / Hortonville). The Tigers adjusted to the Huskies changes, but No. 5 seeded St. Cloud State hung with No. 1 Fort Hays State and trailed just 28-26 at halftime.
The third quarter did not get off to the greatest start for the Huskies, as the Tigers forced three St. Cloud State turnovers and scored four unanswered points to take a 32-26 lead a minute in. It ended up being the obstacle the Huskies could not overcome. Everytime St. Cloud State gained some momentum, Fort Hays State would steal it right back, as the home team held a 43-37 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
Still, the Huskies weren't down for the count. Draheim opened the fourth quarter with a huge three from the top of the key, cutting the Tigers lead to 43-40 before Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere) made it a one-point game with 6:20 remaining in regulation. Unfortunately, Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) was called for her fourth foul seconds later, swinging the momentum back in Fort Hays State favor. The Tigers would go on a six point run, but St. Cloud State never panicked. Instead, the Huskies put together a run of their own, cutting the Fort Hays State lead to 51-49 before Wortz gave St. Cloud State a 52-51 lead with exactly one minute remaining in regulation.
The Tigers answered with a three at the shot clock buzzer on the other end of the court, regaining a 54-52 advantage over the Huskies. Fort Hays then extended its lead to 57-52, hitting another three in the dwindling seconds to go up by five. It was again Wortz, though, who delivered hope for St. Cloud State, draining a three from the top of the key to make it 57-55 with 15.1 remaining on the clock. It was the last time the Huskies would score, as the Tigers sunk four consecutive free throws to clinch the 59-55 win.
TOP HUSKIES
- Morgan Draheim (Hortonville, Wis. / Hortonville) led St. Cloud State in scoring Saturday evening, tallying 14 points on 5-7 shooting, including a 4-6 mark from three-point range.
- Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) closed her Huskies career with a 12 point, nine rebounds performance, while Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) added 10 points in the loss.
