By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
A dominating 106-45 victory over Missouri Valley last weekend was enough to convince voters to slide the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team up in both national polls, released Tuesday (Dec. 4). The Tigers are now ranked ninth in the WBCA Coaches Poll and sixth in the D2SIDA Media Poll, up one spot in the coaches ranking and two slots in the media rendition from a week ago.
Additionally, the Tigers are in sole possession of first place in the weekly D2SIDA Central Region Rankings after being tied for first a week ago. FHSU received four of the five first place votes, with the final top selection going to 2nd-ranked Central Missouri.
The Tigers are one of four MIAA programs listed in the top 25 this week, joined in the coaches rankings by No. 7 Central Missouri, No. 23 Central Oklahoma and No. 24 Emporia State. The media poll lists Central Missouri eighth and Central Oklahoma 15th.
Fort Hays State is one of 19 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division II, including three in the MIAA (Central Oklahoma and Lincoln). The Tigers lead the nation in turnovers per game, giving the ball up just 10.2 times per night, while ranking second in turnover margin (plus-12.17) and assist/turnover ratio (1.52).
The Tigers are 1-1 all-time as the ninth-ranked team in the WBCA poll, with both games coming on the road. FHSU will play inside Gross Memorial Coliseum for the first time ever as the ninth-ranked team in the country Tuesday, December 4 against Nebraska-Kearney and Saturday, December 8 against No. 24 Emporia State.
Below are the complete national rankings for December 4, 2018.
| WBCA Coaches Poll – Week 3 | D2SIDA Media Poll – Week 3 | |||||||||
| Rank | Team (1st) | Record | Points | Previous | Rank | Team (1st) | Record | Points | Previous | |
| 1 | Ashland (24) | 7-0 | 600 | 1 | 1 | Union (11) | 7-0 | 393 | 1 | |
| 2 | Union (Tenn.) | 7-0 | 571 | 2 | 2 | Ashland (5) | 7-0 | 389 | 2 | |
| 3 | Indiana (Pa.) | 7-0 | 541 | 3 | 3 | Bentley | 8-0 | 361 | 4 | |
| 4 | West Texas A&M | 8-0 | 520 | 5 | 4 | West Texas A&M | 8-0 | 353 | 5 | |
| 5 | Bentley | 8-0 | 489 | 6 | 5 | Virginia Union | 8-0 | 335 | 6 | |
| 6 | Drury | 8-0 | 462 | 8 | 6 | Fort Hays State | 6-0 | 318 | 8 | |
| 7 | Central Missouri | 6-1 | 449 | 7 | 7 | Northwest Nazarene | 8-0 | 296 | 10 | |
| 8 | Virginia Union | 8-0 | 423 | 9 | 8 | Central Missouri | 6-1 | 274 | 7 | |
| 9 | Fort Hays State | 6-0 | 402 | 10 | 9 | Lewis | 6-1 | 263 | 9 | |
| 10 | Northwest Nazarene | 8-0 | 356 | 15 | 10 | USciences | 6-0 | 250 | 11 | |
| 11 | University of the Sciences | 6-0 | 355 | 12 | 11 | IUP | 7-0 | 231 | 13 | |
| 12 | UC San Diego | 7-0 | 317 | 14 | 12 | UC San Diego | 7-0 | 206 | 19 | |
| 13 | Alaska Anchorage | 7-1 | 301 | 4 | 13 | North Georgia | 6-1 | 200 | 20 | |
| 14 | Black Hills State | 5-0 | 298 | 13 | 14 | Drury | 8-0 | 198 | 14 | |
| 15 | Grand Valley State | 6-1 | 239 | 16 | 15 | Central Oklahoma | 7-0 | 144 | 21 | |
| 16 | North Georgia | 6-1 | 211 | 16 | 16 | Angelo State | 4-0 | 139 | NR | |
| 17 | California (Pa.) | 7-0 | 180 | 20 | 17 | California | 7-0 | 127 | RV | |
| 18 | Florida Southern | 5-1 | 135 | 21 | 18 | Alaska Anchorage | 7-1 | 125 | 3 | |
| 19 | Stonehill | 7-1 | 119 | 23 | 19 | Jefferson | 7-0 | 124 | 23 | |
| 20 | Carson-Newman | 6-2 | 114 | 11 | 20 | Florida Southern | 5-1 | 114 | 2 | |
| 21 | Angelo State | 4-0 | 109 | NR | 21 | Black Hills State | 5-0 | 94 | 25 | |
| 22 | Lewis | 6-1 | 99 | 24 | 22 | Wingate | 6-2 | 84 | NR | |
| 23 | Central Oklahoma | 7-0 | 87 | NR | 23 | Carson-Newman | 6-2 | 42 | 16 | |
| 24 | Emporia State | 6-1 | 80 | 25 | 24 | Augustana | 8-1 | 30 | RV | |
| 25 | Thomas Jefferson Univ. | 7-0 | 75 | NR | 25 | Eckerd | 5-1 | 30 | NR |