Women’s basketball looks to tame Bronchos

BY FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION

The 23rd-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will host Central Oklahoma in another big conference matchup on Saturday (Feb. 8), with the opening tip set for 2 p.m. The Tigers (17-4, 8-4 MIAA) and Bronchos (15-7, 9-5 MIAA) are battling for positioning in the MIAA standings, with both teams currently in position for a first-round bye in the MIAA Championship Tournament.

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Fort Hays State holds an 11-4 lead in the all-time series, including wins in each of the last three meetings. The Tigers have never lost to the Bronchos in Hays, winning all eight meetings. FHSU is 10-3 against UCO under head coach Tony Hobson, including a perfect 7-0 record at home.

The Tigers bounced back from a home loss with a 20-point win over Newman on Thursday (Feb. 6), 78-58. The win helped the Tigers prevent consecutive losses inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, something that has not happened for the program since January 15 & 19, 2011. FHSU is 119-7 at home since the start of the 2012-13 season.

Jaden Hobbs is averaging 4.7 assists per game this season, third-most in the MIAA. That total currently sits as the third-highest average in a single season in program history.

After hitting nearly 50 percent from the floor against Newman, the Tigers are now 100-3 under Hobson when they knock down at least 45 percent from the floor.

Kacey Kennett averages 9.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in six games against UCO in her career, including 14 points in both meetings last year. Belle Barbieri tallied a double-double in the last game against UCO.

Central Oklahoma comes to Hays looking to snap a two-game losing streak after giving away second-half leads against Northwest Missouri State and Nebraska-Kearney over the last week. The Bronchos rank fourth in the league in scoring, putting up 76.4 points per night, while allowing 65 points per game. They force a league-high 21.3 turnovers each contest while ranking 25th in the country with 11.3 steals per game. UCO has lost each of its last three road games, with their last road win coming nearly one month ago (1/11/20 @ PSU, 88-86). Junior Kelsey Johnson leads the Bronchos with 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. She knocks down 60.0 percent of her shots, the most in the conference and 10th-highest in Division II.