By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team faces off with a ranked opponent for the third time this season on Thursday (Feb. 13) when the Tigers travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to battle 24th-ranked Central Missouri. Both the Tigers (17-5, 8-5 MIAA) and Jennies (18-4, 12-1 MIAA) are looking to bounce back after losing their most recent game on Saturday. First tip is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside the Multipurpose Building.
A win Thursday would clinch Fort Hays State’s ninth-straight trip to the MIAA Championship Tournament inside historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. Tiger fans can purchase discounted tickets to the conference championship now at the athletics office!
After defeating Central Missouri twice last season, the Tigers have narrowed the gap in the all-time series to 15-14 in favor of UCM. Fort Hays State is 4-8 in Warrensburg, including a win in the most recent road game last season. The Tigers have won seven of the last nine meetings going back to the 2014-15 season. Head coach Tony Hobson is 12-10 against the Jennies, including a 3-5 mark on the road.
The Tigers won their first MIAA Championship tournament with a 63-56 win over the Jennies last season in Kansas City (3/10/19). FHSU scored on its first eight possessions and never looked back. Taylor Rolfs led the way with 17 points.
This is the third year in a row that the Tigers have traveled to Warrensburg to play UCM in the regular season. Only three players on the current roster have played in a game against the Jennies at home (Kacey Kennett, Madison Mittie, Taylor Rolfs).
Kacey Kennett has scored in double figures four times against the Jennies and averages 12.2 points per game in five contests against UCM.
The Tigers are 44-37 in games played in Missouri under head coach Tony Hobson, including a 3-1 mark this season in the Show-Me State.
Central Missouri is coming off its first conference loss of the season after a 15-game winning streak was snapped at Missouri Western last weekend. The Jennies remain one game clear of anyone else in the MIAA standings and have secured a spot in the MIAA Championship. UCM is a perfect 10-0 at home this season, defeating opponents by an average of 17.9 points inside the Multi. Megan Skaggs leads the team with 16.2 points per night, fourth-most in the MIAA. Morgan Fleming (14.8 ppg, 8th) and Nija Collier (14.1 ppg, 12th) are also among the top dozen scorers in the league. Collier leads the conference with 9.5 rebounds per contest. The Jennies lead the MIAA and rank 22nd nationally by outrebounding their opponents by 8.4 boards per contest.