by LAWRENCE, Kan. — After a tightly contested first quarter, Haskell Indian Nations University found its rhythm and never looked back, using a dominant second and third quarter surge to power past Hesston College, 86-57.
The contest opened as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find early offense. Hesston grabbed a quick 4-0 lead before Tierzah Penn knocked down a three-pointer off a pass from Ona Dauphinais to get Haskell on the board. From there, the momentum slowly shifted.
Dauphinais sparked the early run, scoring inside and from beyond the arc. Her three-pointer at the 5:48 mark of the first quarter gave Haskell an 8-4 lead, and moments later Ivy Fox converted a layup off a steal to extend the advantage to 10-4. Fox and Dauphinais continued to apply pressure defensively, creating turnovers that led to transition opportunities.
Haskell built a 15-4 lead midway through the opening quarter after another Dauphinais three, but Hesston responded late. Behind strong rebounding and second-chance points, the Larks closed the first quarter on a run and took a 16-15 lead into the break.
The second quarter belonged to Haskell.
Angela Astorga opened the period with a three-pointer, and Jazlynn Nosie followed with a steal that led to a Fox layup. Dauphinais added a layup of her own as Haskell quickly turned a one-point deficit into a 22-16 advantage.
The offense began to flow through good ball movement and aggressive defense. Penn converted from the free-throw line, Astorga scored inside off an assist from Allie Greene, and Fox continued to attack the basket. Haskell’s defensive intensity forced multiple turnovers, leading to easy points in transition.
A 13-point halftime lead—41-28—reflected Haskell’s control of the game after outscoring Hesston 26-12 in the second quarter.
The third quarter put the game out of reach.
Dauphinais buried another three-pointer early, and Penn caught fire from deep, drilling back-to-back triples to stretch the lead beyond 15. Astorga added a layup, and the bench provided a strong spark. Jayla Flient dominated inside with multiple putbacks and finishes at the rim, while Lilly Smith and Alana Stephens contributed key rebounds and defensive stops.
Haskell’s balanced attack pushed the lead to 64-44 by the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth, the Lady Indians continued to apply pressure. Fox scored inside, Dauphinais added another bucket, and Asalia Quigno finished a strong sequence with a layup off an offensive rebound. A late three-pointer from Dauphinais extended the margin to 75-52, effectively sealing the victory.
Haskell’s defensive pressure proved to be the difference, forcing turnovers throughout the game and converting them into points. The team also received strong contributions from its bench, particularly in the third quarter when the lead ballooned.
Dauphinais led the offensive charge with multiple three-pointers and strong play on both ends of the floor. Fox filled the stat sheet with scoring, steals, and rebounds, while Penn and Astorga provided timely perimeter shooting. Flient delivered a physical presence in the paint that helped Haskell control the interior in the second half.
