By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The No. 3/5 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team looks to bounce back after its first loss of the season Saturday (Dec. 7) when the Tigers travel to take on Emporia State. First tip between the Tigers and Lady Hornets is set for 1:30 p.m. inside historic White Auditorium.
The Tigers head into the weekend 6-1 overall and 0-1 in MIAA play, while the Lady Hornets sit at 5-2 on the year. ESU opens conference play at home against Nebraska-Kearney Thursday (Dec. 5).
Emporia State holds a 50-34 lead in the all-time series, including a 27-11 advantage in games played in Emporia. The Tigers are 8-17 against the Lady Hornets under Hobson, including a 1-9 mark inside White Auditorium. Emporia State won its third-straight home game against the Tigers last season, handing FHSU its only regular season loss of the year. Fort Hays State holds an 8-7 lead in the series since the 2013-14 season. No other school has more than four wins over Emporia State over that span (PSU, UCM).
Taylor Rolfs has stepped up in each of the last two road trips to Emporia, scoring 13 points last year and 17 points in the 2017-18 season. She averages 11.7 points per game in three trips to Emporia.
Jaden Hobbs led the Tigers with 20 points in Tuesday’s loss at Nebraska-Kearney, becoming the fifth different player to lead FHSU in scoring this season.
Belle Barbieri paces the team with 12.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. The senior is one of three players in the MIAA averaging a double-double.
Emporia State heads into conference play averaging 74.9 points per night, sixth-best in the MIAA. The Lady Hornets surrender 58.0 points per game, fourth-fewest in the conference. They rank fourth in the nation with 16.0 steals each night and have the third-best turnover margin in the country at +13.3. Three Lady Hornets are averaging at least 12 points per game, led by senior Jessica Wayne’s 14.3 points per night. Wayne adds 6.0 steals per game, tops in the nation. Redshirt-freshman Tre’Zure Jobe adds 13.9 points per game while Mollie Mounsey chips in 12.9 points per contest. ESU is 3-0 at home and 2-2 away from White Auditorium this season.