Lincoln (1-17, 1-17 MIAA) at
#8 Fort Hays State (16-2, 16-2 MIAA)
Thursday, February 18, 2021 • 5:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.30FM)
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Game Sponsor - High Plains Farm Credit
The eighth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team returns to Hays for its final regular season homestand this weekend, beginning with a Thursday evening (Feb. 18) contest against the Lincoln Blue Tigers. First tip is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigers will recognize senior Madison Mittie before the contest. The Manhattan, Kan. native has appeared in 106 games as a Tiger to date, totaling 472 points, 232 rebounds, 92 assists and 94 3-pointers. She was in the starting lineup in her very first game at FHSU in 2016, becoming the first Tiger freshman to start a season opener in seven years. Mittie has been listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll each of the last four years.
With just four games remaining in the regular season, Fort Hays State (16-2, 16-2 MIAA) enters the week tied for first in the MIAA standings with No. 12 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 16 Central Missouri. The Tigers are in a strong position to host a game in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA Championship Tournament, presented by Citizens Bank & Trust on Wednesday, March 3.
The Tigers were mentioned as a team under consideration in the first set of regional rankings, released Wednesday.
Fort Hays State has won its last 11 games, the sixth-longest winning streak and the 13th double-digit winning streak in program history. It is the longest active winning streak in the MIAA and 13th-longest in Division II.
The Tigers have been virtually unbeatable at home over the last nine seasons, winning 129 of their last 138 games inside the Coliseum. FHSU has not lost more than two home games in a season since 2011-12.
This is the third time Fort Hays State has been ranked No. 8 in the WBCA Coaches Poll. The Tigers are 2-0 all-time when ranked No. 8 in the country.
The Tigers are 14-1 all-time against Lincoln, including wins in each of the last 11 meetings. FHSU is 7-1 at home against the Blue Tigers, including six straight wins. All 15 games in series history have come during the Tony Hobson era.
The Blue Tigers head to Hays with a 1-17 record. Lincoln ranks sixth in the MIAA in scoring with 65.9 points per night while ranking last in scoring defense by allowing 79.3 points each game. They grab 12.6 offensive rebounds per game, second-most in the league, while ranking fourth in steals with 8.4 per game. Niyah Jackson leads the team and ranks 11th in the MIAA with an average of 14.7 points per game. Vivian Chigbu is seventh in the conference with an average of 7.1 rebounds per contest while Ashtin Ingram ranks second in blocks with 2.1 each night.
FHSU Athletics