FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will wrap up the home portion of its regular season Tuesday evening (Feb. 21) against rival Nebraska-Kearney. First tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
As a part of Senior Night, the Tigers will be honoring Taylor Chandler, Jill Faxon, Nikola Kacperska and Sarah Pimentel immediately following the final buzzer. It will be the 64th home game the four seniors have played in together.
The Tigers are 19-7 on the season and 10-7 in MIAA play after falling to No. 18 Central Oklahoma Saturday. The Lopers come in on a four-game winning streak, carrying an 11-14 record overall (7-10 MIAA). FHSU has secured a home game in the first round of the MIAA Tournament next Tuesday (Feb. 28) while UNK is currently tied for the eighth seed, the final position to clinch a home game.
Fort Hays State has dominated the all-time series with UNK 52-35, including a 32-10 edge in games played in Hays. The Tigers have not lost to UNK since 2008, winning 13 straight against the Lopers. It is the program’s longest active streak against an MIAA school. Fort Hays State is 13-1 against the Lopers under head coach Tony Hobson, including a 6-1 record inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers have played UNK more than any other team in program history.
A win Tuesday would give Fort Hays State 20 wins for the sixth consecutive year, continuing the team’s record-breaking streak. The program had only recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons twice before the current streak began in 2011-12 (1989-90 and 1990-91, 2004-05 and 2005-06). Hobson has coached the team to five of its 13 20-win seasons, the most for a single coach all-time. Hobson has led the Tigers to a record of 137-41 (.770) over the last five-plus seasons.
The balanced Tiger offense has proven difficult to defend for many teams this season, with eight different players leading the team in scoring at least once this year. Six players average north of seven points per game, led by 11.3 points per night from Faxon. Carly Heim (23 points) and Madison Mittie (17 points) both look to keep things rolling after recording career-highs their last time out. Tatyana Legette remains among the league’s best rebounders, averaging 7.6 boards per game. The sophomore has averaged a double-double over the last four games (12.3 points, 10.8 rebounds).
The Lopers moved to 0-7 in the MIAA after Fort Hays State defeated them last month, 57-51 (Jan. 12). Since then UNK has won seven of 10, climbing towards the top half of the MIAA standings. Michaela Barry (15.0 ppg) and McKenzie Brown (12.0 ppgs) lead the Lopers offensively, with Courtney Aitken grabbing a team-best 6.6 rebounds per contest. UNK controls the ball very well, turning it over less than 13 times per game.
The Tigers will wrap up the regular season Thursday evening (Feb. 23) against Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo.