BY FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team maintained its ranking of eighth in the updated NCAA Division II Central Region rankings, released Wednesday (Feb. 26).
The Tigers (20-6, 11-6 MIAA) have an overall Division II record of 17-6 and an in-region record of 16-6. FHSU has three wins over regionally ranked opponents this season, topping No. 2 Minnesota Duluth in the first game of the year before defeating both No. 9 Harding and No. 4 Emporia State by more than 30 points.
A pair of home wins last week helped the Tigers hang on to the No. 8 ranking. Multiple teams above the Tigers lost last week, but two road wins from Southwestern Oklahoma State helped the Bulldogs leap from ninth to seventh.
Four MIAA teams are listed in the regional top 10 this week, with FHSU joined by top-ranked Central Missouri, fourth-ranked Emporia State and No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney. The NSIC and GAC each have three teams represented this week.
The regional ranking committee will announce one more regular season poll before the final announcement is made on Selection Sunday, when the NCAA announces the 64-team field for the 2020 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship at 9 p.m. on Sunday, March 8. The three conference tournament champions from the MIAA, GAC and NSIC will be joined by top five remaining teams in an eight-team regional tournament beginning Friday, March 13.
Fort Hays State wrap up the regular season on the road this week against Central Oklahoma and Newman before heading to Kansas City, Mo. for the 2020 MIAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
| NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings – February 26, 2020 | |||
| Rank | School | Overall DII Record | In-Region Record |
| 1 | Central Missouri | 20-4 | 20-4 |
| 2 | Minnesota Duluth | 23-5 | 23-5 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls | 24-5 | 24-5 |
| 4 | Emporia State | 17-6 | 17-6 |
| 5 | Nebraska-Kearney | 19-3 | 19-3 |
| 6 | Southeastern Oklahoma State | 16-7 | 16-7 |
| 7 | Southwestern Oklahoma State | 19-7 | 19-7 |
| 8 | Fort Hays State | 17-6 | 16-6 |
| 9 | Harding | 18-8 | 18-8 |
| 10 | St. Cloud State | 18-7 | 17-7 |