By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
No. 4/4 Fort Hays State (30-3, 19-3 MIAA) vs.
Missouri Western (23-9, 14-8 MIAA)
Monday, March 14 7 p.m.
Hays, Kan. Gross Memorial Coliseum
2022 NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship
Central Region Championship
Promotion: Wear Black!
A trophy will be lifted and the nets will be cut down inside Gross Memorial Coliseum Monday evening (March 14) by either fourth-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball or Missouri Western. The Central Region title game between MIAA rivals will tip at 7 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to wear black and purchase their tickets online via this link to avoid standing in line at the door. Tickets ($10 adults, $5 K-12) will be available at the gate for those unable to purchase online.
Free live video will be streamed on The MIAA Network, courtesy of Tiger Media Network, while voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will have the call on KJLS (103.3 FM in the Hays listening area) alongside Dustin Armbruster.
The Tigers (30-3) won their 11th-consecutive game on Saturday, a thrilling 59-55 win over St. Cloud State in the regional semifinals. The Griffons (23-9) continued their impressive run in the tournament with a 72-59 win over Nebraska-Kearney to reach the regional final.
Fort Hays State beat Missouri Western twice in the regular season, including a 13-point win on the road (74-61, 1/15/22) and a nine-point win in overtime at home (78-69, 2/23/22). The Tigers lead the all-time series 32-23, including wins in four straight. FHSU is 21-5 at home against the Griffons. The Tigers are 16-6 against MWSU under head coach Tony Hobson and 10-0 at home.
Saturday’s win was Fort Hays State’s 30th victory of the season, with the Tigers reaching that milestone for the fourth time in program history. It’s the third 30-win season for the Tigers over the last eight years. In comparison, the rest of the MIAA has a combined one 30-win season during that timeframe (UCM 2017-18).
FHSU’s 58 rebounds against Minnesota State are the most in a single game by a team through two rounds of the tournament. Katie Wagner’s 16 rebounds against MSU are fourth-most in a game by an individual and her six steals against St. Cloud State are third-most in a game during the tournament. The Tigers rank fourth overall with nine blocks, fourth in total rebounds with 91, fifth in rebounds per game at 45.5, second in total steals at 25, and ninth in field goal percentage defense at 33.9 percent.
The Tigers are 7-6 overall, 0-2 in the championship, 6-3 as the No. 1 seed, 0-0 against the No. 7 seed, 6-2 in home games, 6-4 while ranked and 1-3 against MIAA programs in the NCAA DII regional tournament all-time.
Six No. 1 seeds remain in the national tournament, with East Region No. 1 Southern New Hampshire falling in the quarterfinals and Midwest top seed Ashland losing in the semifinals.
Fort Hays State is now 73-5 (.936) in non-conference home games under Hobson. The Tigers are 189-29 overall at home during the Hobson era, good for a winning percentage of .867.
Through two games, Missouri Western ranks first out of 64 teams in the NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship in assists (44), assists per game (22.0), field goal percentage (56.8), scoring offense (91.5 ppg), 3-pointers made (20) and 3-point field goal percentage (52.6). The Griffons defeated second-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State 111-77 behind 15 3-pointers in the regional quarterfinal. Connie Clarke (team-high 12.7 points, 8.7 rebounds per game) was a second team All-MIAA selection in addition to earning a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Corbyn Cunningham and Brionna Budgetts also earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors.
The victor of Monday’s regional championship game will get a week off before opening play in the Elite Eight on Monday, March 21 in Birmingham, Ala. The national semifinals will be played on Wednesday, March 23 before the DII National Championship trophy is handed out on Friday, March 25.