FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State Women's Basketball (12-4, 7-1 MIAA)
vs. 11/7 Missouri Southern (12-2, 4-2 MIAA)
Thursday, January 5, 2023 • 5:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Domino's Pizza
National Anthem: Stockton High School
Halftime: Simon and Lyric Arestov's Rolla Bolla - an amazing display of acrobatics, balance, and athleticism
Radio: KJLS (103.3)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Fort Hays State women's basketball plays at home for the first time in 2023 Thursday (Jan. 5) when the Tigers host 11th-ranked Missouri Southern. First tip between last season's MIAA co-champions is set for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigers enter the contest 12-4 overall and 7-1 in the MIAA after defeating Lincoln on Monday, while Missouri Southern is 12-2 this season and 4-2 in conference play after falling at home to Pittsburg State earlier this week.
Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network, presented by Tiger Media Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network.
Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com.
Last Time Out
- Fort Hays State put on a 3-point shooting clinic before halftime, knocking down 11 long-range shots before the break en route to an 85-68 road win over Lincoln on Monday (1/2/23).
- The Tigers and Blue Tigers started the game on fire, knocking down eight consecutive shots, including six from behind the 3-point line.
- The Tigers led by as many as 25 early in the fourth quarter.
- Megan Earney led all scorers with a career-high 15 points thanks to 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arc.
- Fort Hays State recorded season highs in field goal percentage (.564), 3-pointers made (12) and 3-point shooting percentage (.522).
- The Tigers scored 54 points before halftime, tied for their highest-scoring half ever in an MIAA contest.
Tiger Notables
- The Tigers are shooting .481 from the floor and .465 from behind the arc since returning from the holiday break. Five different players have hit at least two three-pointers over the last two games (Earney 7, Sydney Golladay 5, Emma Ruddle 3, Kate Dilsaver 2, Ellie Stearns 2).
- Katie Wagner nearly averages a double-double in four career matchups with Missouri Southern, averaging 9.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
- Golladay is averaging 6.0 assists per game over the last six contests, including a career-high eight in Monday's win at Lincoln.
- Thursday's contest features two of the top teams in the nation in relation to ball control. The Lions rank fourth in DII in turnovers per game (11.5) and second in assist/turnover ratio (1.43), while the Tigers are sixth in both turnovers per game (12.3) and A/TO ratio (1.35).
- The Tigers are in pursuit of their 12th-consecutive 20-win season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II.
- Starting Saturday Fort Hays State will play four-straight rivalry games, including three against in-state rivals in Pittsburg State, Washburn and Emporia State as well as long-time rival Nebraska-Kearney.
- Fort Hays State has won 222 games since the start of the 2014-15 season, by far the most of any MIAA team (ESU & UCM - 191 wins).
- The Tigers are 211-113 (.651) in conference games since joining the MIAA in 2006.
- The Tigers have a chance to win the league for a third-consecutive year, a feat not accomplished in more than 15 years (Washburn 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06).
Home Cooking
- This is the 50th season of basketball inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
- The women are 554-134 at home over the last 50 seasons, good for a winning percentage better than 80 percent.
- The Tigers have won at least 10 home games in 34 of the last 49 seasons inside the Coliseum, including each of the last 12 seasons and 13 of 14 during the Tony Hobson era.
- FHSU has only two losing records at home during the GMC era.
- Fort Hays State has not lost consecutive home games in nearly 12 years (1/15-19/11, vs PSU and ESU).
- The Tigers are 155-14 at home since the start of the 2012-13 season (.917).
- FHSU is 196-31 (.863) at home under Hobson, including a 120-24 record in conference games and a 76-7 mark in non-conference games.
- FHSU has not lost more than three games at home in a season since 2010-11.
Series History with Missouri Southern
- Fort Hays State leads the all-time series with the Lions, 37-19, dating back to the 1976-77 season.
- The Tigers have a one-game winning streak in the series after beating the Lions in last season's MIAA Tournament Championship game, 48-42 (3/6/22). Sydney Golladay sealed the win with four points in the final 13 seconds, including a reverse layup and two free throws with six seconds to go to put the game on ice.
- The Tigers are 24-5 at home against Missouri Southern after the Lions snapped a nine-game losing streak inside the Coliseum with a 54-41 win in Hays last January (1/20/22).
- Fort Hays State is 18-7 against the Lions during the Hobson era, including an 11-2 mark at home.
- The Tigers are 15-9 against MSSU in regular season MIAA contests.
On This Day
- The Tigers are 10-5 in recorded history on January 5.
- Most recently, Fort Hays State defeated Southwest Baptist on the road in 2019, 92-67.
The Coach
- Tony Hobson enters his 15th season at Fort Hays State and his 31st season as a head coach at the collegiate level in 2022-23.
- He is 324-113 as a Tiger and 737-219 all-time.
- Hobson ranks third all-time amongst MIAA head coaches with 324 wins at FHSU.
- He ranks in the top 30 in win percentage amongst all active NCAA head coaches and in the top 10 in Division II.
- Hobson earned the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Women's Four-Year College Coach of the Year award last season, his 19th career coach of the year award.
- He has coached four All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, two conference players of the year and 48 All-MIAA performers over the last 14 seasons.
Scouting the Lions
- Missouri Southern leads the MIAA and ranks second in DII with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.42. The Lions turn the ball over just 11.5 times per game, fourth-fewest in the country.
- The Lions also lead the league in blocks per game (4.9 bpg) and field goal percentage defense (.350).
- The reigning MIAA Player of the Year and a two-time MIAA Player of the Week this season, Lacy Stokes ranks 10th nationally and first in the MIAA with 5.7 assists per game while ranking third in the league and 60th nationally with 17.4 points per game.
- Madi Stokes has 32 blocks so far this season, fifth-most in Division II.
Looking Ahead
Fort Hays State hosts in-state rival Pittsburg State in the first of two regular-season matchups on Saturday, January 7 beginning at 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers will then have one week off before taking on the Lopers of No. 22 Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, January 14 at 2 p.m.