By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS – The fourth-ranked Fort Hays State women’s
basketball team is listed atop the initial set of NCAA Division II Central
Region rankings, released Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 20). This is the first of
three sets of regional rankings that will be announced before the NCAA
Championship bracket is released on March 10.
The 23-1 Tigers are one of two teams in the region with just one loss this
season, joined by second-ranked Southwestern Oklahoma State (23-1). Every other
team in the region has at least five losses so far this season.
Fort Hays State is 5-1 against teams listed in the top 10 in the region.
The Tigers are one of six MIAA programs mentioned in the initial release, with
Central Missouri ranked third, Emporia State ranked sixth, Pittsburg State
sitting in eighth, Lindenwood ranked ninth and Washburn slotted 10th.
The champions of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC tournaments will all earn an automatic
bid into the NCAA Championship field, with the next five teams in the region
also earning an at-large selection. The top team in the region earns the right
to host the regional tournament, which will be held March 15-18.
With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Tigers will hit the
road for the final time this weekend with a trip to Oklahoma. Fort Hays State
will take on Central Oklahoma Thursday (Feb. 21) at 5:30 p.m. before facing off
with Northeastern State at 1:30 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 23).
| Rank | School | Overall DII Record | In-Region Record |
| 1 | Fort Hays State | 20-1 | 20-1 |
| 2 | Southwestern Oklahoma State | 23-1 | 23-1 |
| 3 | Central Missouri | 18-5 | 16-4 |
| 4 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 21-5 | 19-5 |
| 5 | Minnesota Duluth | 17-6 | 17-6 |
| 6 | Emporia State | 19-5 | 17-5 |
| 7 | Concordia-St. Paul | 17-6 | 17-6 |
| 8 | Pittsburg State | 16-5 | 15-5 |
| 9 | Lindenwood (Missouri) | 17-5 | 17-5 |
| 10 | Washburn | 16-7 | 14-7 |