By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team moved up three slots to fourth in the first regular season rendition of the D2SIDA Media Poll, released Tuesday (Nov. 16) by the organization. The Tigers were seventh in the ranks to open the year, but moved past three teams after a strong 2-0 start to the season.
The Tigers never trailed over opening weekend, leading wire-to-wire in victories over Southeastern Oklahoma State and Sioux Falls. Fort Hays State moved past Central Missouri, who fell from fourth to 24th after a 3-2 start to the season. The Tigers also jumped the defending national champions after Lubbock Christian dropped a contest over the weekend and moved past fellow undefeated North Georgia.
The Tigers received 344 points in the voting process, 11 back of third-place Drury and 14 behind second-place Alaska-Anchorage. Lander moved up to the top spot after receiving 11 first-place votes.
Fort Hays State is also fourth in the preseason WBCA DII Coaches Poll. The first regular season coaches poll is scheduled to be released later this month.
The Tigers were also a near-unanimous selection atop the D2SIDA central region rankings, receiving four out of five first-place votes and a second-place vote on the final ballot for a total of 49 points. Minnesota-Duluth is second in the region with 31 points, while Southwestern Oklahoma State is third with 30 points. Central Missouri is the next-best MIAA team, coming in fourth in this week’s regional rankings.
Fort Hays State will play the first of 15 home games this weekend (Nov. 19-20) when the Tigers host St. Cloud State, Cameron and Newman in a crossover classic. The Tigers will play St. Cloud State Friday at 6 p.m. and Cameron Saturday at 4 p.m., while Newman faces off with the teams in reverse order starting two hours before the scheduled FHSU tip.
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1 | Lander (11) | 2-0 | 395 | 3 |
| 2 | Alaska-Anchorage | 1-0 | 358 | 5 |
| 3 | Drury (5) | 4-1 | 355 | 2 |
| 4 | Fort Hays State | 2-0 | 344 | 7 |
| 5 | North Georgia | 2-0 | 330 | 6 |
| 6 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 2-0 | 319 | 17 |
| 7 | Azusa Pacific | 2-0 | 280 | 10 |
| 8 | Colorado School of Mines | 2-0 | 279 | 11 |
| 9 | Indiana (Pa.) | 2-0 | 271 | RV |
| 10 | Lubbock Christian | 4-1 | 249 | 1 |
| 11 | Ashland | 2-0 | 242 | 18 |
| 12 | Lee | 2-0 | 234 | RV |
| 13 | Gannon | 1-0 | 213 | 9 |
| 14 | Stonehill | 0-0 | 192 | 19 |
| 15 | Minnesota-Duluth | 0-0 | 172 | 21 |
| 16 | Michigan Tech | 2-0 | 165 | 23 |
| 17 | Valdosta State | 2-0 | 158 | RV |
| 18 | Saint Anselm | 2-0 | 105 | NR |
| 19 | Cal State-San Marcos | 0-0 | 78 | 25 |
| 20 | Catawba | 2-0 | 70 | NR |
| 21t | Kentucky Wesleyan | 2-0 | 53 | NR |
| 21t | Southwestern Oklahoma State | 3-2 | 53 | 24 |
| 23 | Glenville State | 2-0 | 51 | NR |
| 24t | Central Missouri | 3-2 | 43 | 4 |
| 24t | Colorado Mesa | 2-0 | 43 | NR |
| 24t | Tampa | 3-2 | 43 | 16 |
Receiving Votes: Bentley
26, Western Washington 20, Barton 16, Montevallo 13, Shippensburg 9, Cameron 7,
Grand Valley State 6, California (Pa.) 3, Point Loma Nazarene 3, USciences 1
Dropped Out: Daemen,
Union (Tenn.), Belmont Abbey, Walsh, Nebraska-Kearney, Bowie State, Charleston
(W.Va.)