FHSU Athletics
#7/#14 Fort Hays State (12-1, 3-1 MIAA)
vs. Emporia State (7-6, 2-2 MIAA)
Thursday, January 9, 2025 • 5:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Buff Car Wash
National Anthem: Colby High School Choir
Promotions: Fans 55+ can purchase a general admission ticket for only $5
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Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
The seventh-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens a three-game homestand Thursday when the Tigers host in-state rival Emporia State beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The Tigers (12-1, 3-1 MIAA) will look to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season last Saturday, falling 67-66 at Missouri Western. Emporia State (7-6, 2-2) is also coming off a loss in its most recent contest, losing 64-61 at home against Washburn.
The Tigers average 19.2 assists per game, second-most in Division II. FHSU also ranks in the top 10 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (1.32, fifth), field goal percentage defense (33.5 percent, sixth), scoring margin (plus-20.2, sixth), defensive rebounds per game (30.6, eighth) and winning percentage (92.3 percent, eighth).
Brooke Loewe dished out 12 assists on Saturday against Missouri Western, one off the program's single-game record and two behind this year's DII single-game leader. The junior is averaging 6.6 assists per contest, tops in the MIAA and fourth-best in Division II.
The Tigers have won seven straight games on January 9, with the last loss coming 21 years ago at Fort Lewis in 2004 (84-64).
Fort Hays State has more wins without a loss (12) as the seventh-ranked team in the country than any other spot in the poll. Next-closest is No. 11 where they are 7-0.
The Tigers have trailed for 43:17 in 525 minutes of action (8.2 percent) across 13 games this season. FHSU hasn't trailed by more than five points and hasn't trailed for more than 13:20 in a single game.
Katie DeGarmo moved into second on the all-time scoring list at FHSU last Saturday, now with 1,933 career points to pass Kate Lehman. DeGarmo is also second on the all-time rebounding list with 1,060 career rebounds, just 49 boards behind Lehman.
DeGarmo saves some of her best games for the Lady Hornets, with the graduate student averaging a double-double in five career matchups with ESU. She averages 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in those games, scoring in double figures all five times, scoring at least 20 points once and recording four double-doubles.
Megan Earney also averages in double figures when playing ESU, putting up 10.3 points per night in three contests after scoring 20 points in the most recent meeting on six made 3-pointers.
Olivia Hollenbeck has scored 1,619 points in her career as a Tiger, just 38 points away from moving into the top five on FHSU's all-time scoring list. The graduate student is leading the Tigers with an average of 16.7 points per game, fourth-most in the conference. She also leads the conference with 2.6 steals per night and ranks third with an average of 1.6 blocks per contest.
Emporia State leads the all-time series with the Tigers, 52-39. The Tigers hold a slim margin in home games, however, leading 23-20 in games played in Hays. The Tigers have dominated the series of late, winning each of the last four games, which is tied for its longest winning streak in series history, and eight of the last 11 meetings. FHSU has won seven of eight at home against the Lady Hornets over the last 10 seasons. The Tigers are 11-19 against Emporia State in regular season MIAA contests, making the Lady Hornets one of two teams (PSU 16-14) that holds a winning record against the Tigers in MIAA league games.
Emporia State heads to Hays with an overall record of 7-6, including a 2-2 mark in league action. The Lady Hornets are 1-2 in true road games this season. ESU had a three-game winning streak snapped in its most recent outing, a narrow 64-61 home loss to Washburn. The Lady Hornets rank third in the MIAA with an average of 7.4 made 3-pointers per game. They rank last in the league and 266th out of 290 DII programs in scoring defense, allowing 73.7 points per night. Katie Horyna ranks second in the conference with a team-best 17.4 points per game.