By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The No. 19 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will wrap up non-conference play this week at the 2019 Cruzin Classic in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Tigers will take on regional foe Harding on Wednesday (Dec. 18) at 1:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. ET) before battling No. 6 Saint Anselm in a top-25 battle on Thursday (Dec. 19) at 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET).
This is the first time Fort Hays State has played both Harding and Saint Anselm. After playing Minnesota Duluth for the first time in program history in the first game of the year, the Tigers have played 128 different schools in their 51-year history. FHSU is 79-49 when facing off with a program for the first time. The Tigers are 14-3 under head coach Tony Hobson when playing a school for the first time in program history.
This is the first time the Tigers have played a regular or postseason game in the Eastern Time Zone during Hobson’s tenure.
The Tigers will bring a 7-2 record with them to Florida after a blowout win over Bethany College last week in Hays, 92-40 (Dec. 11). Fort Hays State ranks in the top 10 in the country in eight statistical categories, including assist/turnover ratio (first, 1.86), assists per game (ninth, 18.2), fewest turnovers (fifth, 88), personal fouls per game (third, 13.1), scoring defense (third, 48.3), scoring margin (third, 31.0), turnover margin (fourth, 11.89) and turnovers per game (first, 9.8).
Six different players have led the Tigers in scoring in a game so far this season (Kacey Kennett 3, Lanie Page 2, Belle Barbieri, Jaden Hobbs, Taylor Rolfs, Hailey Walker).
Harding heads to Florida 5-3 on the year, including an 0-3 record away from home. The Lady Bisons average 72.9 points per night while surrendering 68.6 points per contest. Kellie Lampo leads the team with 17.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest. The junior has recorded five double-doubles on the year. Carissa Caples adds 11.0 points per game and has a team-high 10 blocks through eight games. The Lady Bisons average 17.4 offensive rebounds per night, ranking sixth in the country. Harding opened the year with a pair of victories against MIAA programs, knocking off Emporia State and Missouri Southern State at home.
The Lady Bisons play their conference games in the Great American Conference. Fort Hays State is 6-1 against GAC teams under Hobson (Arkansas Tech 1-0, Northwestern Oklahoma State 4-0, Southwestern Oklahoma State 1-1).
Saint Anselm has opened the year with seven-straight wins after reaching the national quarterfinals a year ago. They knock down 48.0 percent from the floor, 10th-best in the country. The Eagles are scoring 82.9 points per night, 14th-most in Division II, while allowing 63.6 points each game. Senior Shannon Ryan is one of the top players in DII, ranking second in the country in both scoring (26.7 ppg) and rebounding (14.3). She has seven double-doubles on the year, third-most in the nation. Four other players average more than nine points per night. Peyton Steinman dishes out a team-high 4.6 assists. The Eagles are 4-0 away from home this season.