FHSU Athletics
INDIANAPOLIS - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team held steady in third in the latest release of the NCAA Division II Central Region rankings, released Wednesday (March 6) by the NCAA office.
The Tigers (22-6) finished the regular season with a quality win against Nebraska-Kearney, a team that was listed as under consideration in the first rankings release two weeks ago.
There wasn't much movement in the rankings this week, with the exception of Northwest Missouri State's road win over Missouri Southern lifting the Bearcats from eighth to sixth and Minnesota State Mankato dipping from sixth to eighth as a result.
The MIAA still has six teams in the top 10, including five in the top eight. The Great American Conference has three teams listed, with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference only represented by one school.
Minnesota State won the NSIC Tournament on Tuesday, securing an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA DII Central Regional and all but guaranteeing that just one NSIC school will be in the field of eight. That leaves seven spots remaining for schools from the MIAA and the GAC, including two automatic bids and five at-large selections.
The Tigers have six wins against regionally ranked opponents, including two against Pittsburg State and one each against Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri State, Minnesota State and Colorado Mesa, who are ranked second in the South Central Region.
Fort Hays State ranks in the top five in three primary categories used in selection, including DII strength of schedule, performance indicator and in-region RPI.
Official selections for the Regional Championship will be announced Sunday evening (March 10) at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
The Tigers will open the postseason Friday (March 8) when they take on Central Missouri in the quarterfinals of the 2024 MIAA Championship, presented by Southern Bank. First tip is slated for 2:15 p.m. inside historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.2024
NCAA DII Central Region Rankings - February 28
School • Overall DII Record • In-Region Record
1. Southern Nazarene • 27-1 • 27-1
2. Missouri Western • 22-4 • 21-3
3. Fort Hays State • 20-6 • 20-6
4. Missouri Southern State • 20-8 • 19-7
5. Harding • 24-4 • 24-4
6. Northwest Missouri State • 21-6 • 21-6
7. Pittsburg State • 20-7 • 20-7
8. Minnesota State Mankato • 24-5 • 22-4
9. Central Missouri • 20-7 • 18-7
10. Northwestern Oklahoma State • 20-6 • 18-6