By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced on Friday (June 3) that Fort Hays State will be one of eight teams to participate in the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Eight of the top women’s programs in Division II will be participating in the weekend event, which will feature four games each day taking place November 5-6.
Fort Hays State is slated to take on West Texas A&M and Southern Nazarene in the event. West Texas A&M was the champion of the South Central Regional in the NCAA Tournament last year, but was knocked out in the national quarterfinals by eventual national champion Glenville State (W.Va.). West Texas A&M had a record of 26-11 in 2021-22. Southern Nazarene finished its season in the Great American Conference quarterfinals last year after finishing second in the regular season standings. The GAC only had one representative in the Central Regional hosted in Hays last year, that being Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Crimson Storm posted a record of 20-10 in 2021-22.
The eight-game event will feature four teams from the MIAA, all which competed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament last year, along with two programs from the Lone Star Conference, one from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and one from the Great American Conference. All but one of the teams playing in the event competed in the NCAA Tournament last year.
Here’s a quick look at the teams competing at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic
Fort Hays State – Finished 30-4 in 2021-22…Was the No. 1 seed in the Central Region of the NCAA Tournament…Reached the finals of the Central Regional.
Lubbock Christian – Finished 28-7 in 2021-22…Was the No. 3 seed in the South Central Region of the NCAA Tournament…Reached the finals of the South Central Regional.
Minnesota-Duluth – Finished 24-5 in 2021-22…Was the No. 3 seed in the Central Region of the NCAA Tournament…Fell in the opening round of the Central Regional.
Missouri Southern – Finished 24-7 in 2021-22…Was the No. 4 seed in the Central Region of the NCAA Tournament…Fell in the opening round of the Central Regional.
Missouri Western – Finished 24-10 in 2021-22…Was the No. 7 seed in the Central Region of the NCAA Tournament…Won the Central Regional before falling in the national quarterfinals.
Nebraska-Kearney – Finished 24-8 in 2021-22…Was the No. 6 seed in the Central Region of the NCAA Tournament…Reached the semifinals of the Central Regional.
Southern Nazarene – Finished 20-10 in 2021-22…Fell in the opening round of their conference tournament…Only team in this event that did not compete in the NCAA Tournament in 2021-22.
West Texas A&M – Finished 26-11 in 2021-22…Was the No. 1 seed in the South Central Region of the NCAA Tournament…Won the South Central Regional before falling in the national quarterfinals.
Below is the event schedule for the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic
November 5, 2022
Game 1 – 11:30 AM: Nebraska Kearney vs. Southern Nazarene
Game 2 – 1:30 PM: Fort Hays State vs. West Texas A&M
Game 3 – 3:30 PM: Missouri Southern vs. Lubbock Christian
Game 4 – 5:30 PM: Missouri Western vs. Minnesota Duluth
November 6, 2022
Game 5 – 11:30 AM: Nebraska Kearney vs. West Texas A&M
Game 6 – 1:30 PM: Fort Hays State vs. Southern Nazarene
Game 7 – 3:30 PM: Missouri Southern vs. Minnesota Duluth
Game 8 – 5:30 PM: Missouri Western vs. Lubbock Christian