FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (19-11, 14-8 MIAA)
vs. Missouri Western (24-6, 18-4 MIAA)
Friday, March 3, 2023 • 8:15 p.m.
Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium
2023 MIAA Basketball Championships presented by Southern Bank • Quarterfinals
Radio • KJLS (103.3)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
The Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens the postseason Friday (March 3) in the quarterfinals of the 2023 MIAA Basketball Championships presented by Southern Bank when the Tigers take on Missouri Western. First tip between the sixth-seeded Tigers (19-11, 14-8 MIAA) and the third-seeded Griffons (24-6, 18-4 MIAA) is slated for 8:15 p.m. inside historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
The Tigers have been a mainstay on the weekend in the MIAA Championship over the last decade, with FHSU reaching the semifinals in nine of the last 10 tournaments. No other women's program in the league has reached more than seven semis over that span. Additionally, the Tigers have played in four of the last five title games, two more than any other team.
Head coach Tony Hobson has won 19 games in the MIAA tournament, fifth-most in league history, while one more victory would tie him for third place. He is one of 10 coaches to win multiple postseason MIAA tournaments.
The Tigers are 19-11 all-time in the MIAA Championship tournament, 1-0 against MWSU, 9-4 in the quarterfinals, 3-2 as the No. 6 seed, 2-2 against the No. 3 seed and 14-10 in KC.
FHSU turned the ball over just three times in its final game of the regular season against Nebraska-Kearney (2/25/23), the fewest in a game since 2019 (11/25/19 vs St. Mary) and the fewest against a Division II opponent since 2016 (2/25/16 at Northeastern State). It was the fewest turnovers in a game by an MIAA team this season and third-fewest by a DII team on the year.
The Tigers had two players named to the 2023 All-MIAA team, with Katie Wagner earning first-team status and Olivia Hollenbeck receiving third team honors. Wagner is the 10th first teamer for the Tigers (MIAA era), while Hollenbeck is the ninth Tiger to earn a trio of All-MIAA awards. Wagner is one of two players in the conference that ranks inside the top seven in both scoring (14.9 ppg, seventh) and rebounding (7.7 rpg, sixth). Her 10 double-doubles are second-most in the league.
Wagner became the 24th player in FHSU history to reach 1,000 career points earlier this season against Newman. Hollenbeck is 22 points away from becoming the 25th Tiger to accomplish the feat.
The duo are the top returning scorers in the MIAA tournament, with Wagner averaging 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in six career contests. Hollenbeck puts up 9.5 ppg in six games, including one game with 20+ points.
The pair have also fared well against Missouri Western. Hollenbeck has scored in double figures in six of seven career matchups against MWSU, averaging 13.3 ppg against the Griffons. Wagner averages 12.9 ppg against MWSU, including three double-doubles.
Fort Hays State is 33-25 all-time against the Griffons, including a 1-2 mark in neutral site contests and a 1-0 mark in the MIAA tournament. FHSU is 17-8 against MWSU during the Hobson era, including wins in eight of the last 11 battles. Missouri Western clipped the Tigers by one point in double overtime in the most recent meeting in Hays, 82-81 (1/26/23). Two of the last four games between the black-and-gold clad teams have been decided in overtime.
The Tigers are 63-44 when playing in Missouri during the Hobson era, including a 16-11 record in Kansas City. FHSU opened the season in the same building, going 1-1 at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic (L 71-58 vs West Texas A&M, W 45-43 vs Southern Nazarene).
The Griffons rank eighth in the latest Central Region rankings after having a six-game winning streak snapped on the final day of the regular season against Pittsburg State (68-66, in St. Joe, 2/25/23). Connie Clarke was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year in the MIAA, headlining the All-Defensive team while also earning second team All-MIAA status. Brionna Budgetts was a first team All-MIAA selection, with Johnni Gonzalez and Trinity Knapp receiving honorable mention accolades. Budgetts ranks eighth in Division II with a three-point shooting percentage of 44.1 percent.
The winner in Friday's quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals to take on either 10th-ranked Central Missouri or Central Oklahoma beginning at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. The loser in Friday's game will await the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball selection show, set for Sunday evening at 9:30 p.m.