FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State Women's Basketball (9-3, 5-0 MIAA)
vs. Newman (4-6, 1-4 MIAA)
Sunday, December 18, 2022 • 2 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Redeem Designs
National Anthem: FHSU Pep Band
Promotions: Retro Night - retro t-shirt giveaway before the game, $1 fountain drinks and popcorn
Radio: KJLS (103.3)
CLICK TO LISTEN
Before heading into the holiday break, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team will play back-to-back games for the fourth time this season when the Tigers host Newman on Sunday (Dec. 18, 2 p.m.) and Bethany on Monday (Dec. 19, 6 p.m.).
Fort Hays State opened the busy weekend with a 57-48 win over Central Oklahoma Friday evening, moving to 9-3 on the year and 5-0 in conference play. The Jets dropped their fourth-consecutive game Friday, losing at Nebraska-Kearney by 24 to fall to 4-6 overall and 1-4 in MIAA contests. The Swedes are 9-5 on the year and 7-2 in KCAC contests. Monday's contest will be an exhibition for the Swedes.
Live video of the both games 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
- Olivia Hollenbeck and Katie Wagner combined for 42 points and Megan Earney knocked down two critical 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help FHSU outlast Central Oklahoma on Friday, 57-48.
- The Tigers led 10-9 after a slow first quarter and 25-24 at halftime.
- The Bronchos took a 5-point lead in the third quarter before Hollenbeck went to work, scoring 10 of her 20 points in the third quarter.
- Wagner outscored the Bronchos 10-8 over the final five-plus minutes, hitting 8-of-9 from the free-throw line to seal the win.
- Sydney Golladay dished out five assists and blocked a career-high two shots and played a career-high 37 minutes in the win.
Tiger Notables
- Fort Hays State has won 219 games since the start of the 2014-15 season, by far the most of any MIAA team (ESU - 189 wins).
- The Tigers are 209-112 (.651) in conference games since joining the MIAA in 2006.
- Fort Hays State sits in a familiar position in the MIAA standings - right at the top. The Tigers are one of three undefeated teams remaining in league play alongside Central Missouri (7-0, 4-0 MIAA) and Emporia State (7-1, 3-0 MIAA).
- Hollenbeck tallied her fourth-career double-double Friday against the Bronchos, compiling 20 points and matching her career-high with 12 rebounds.
- Wagner has five double-doubles this season and has finished one rebound shy of a double-double in two other contests.
- The Tigers have three players ranked in the top 22 in the MIAA in assists - Brooke Loewe (3.6 apg), Golladay (3.1 apg) and Kate Dilsaver (2.5 apg).
- 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).
- Hollenbeck averages 11.5 points in four games against the Jets, while Earney put up 11 points in her lone contest against Newman last season. Wagner puts up 9.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game against Newman, with Jessie Sallach totaling 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game against the Jets in her career.
Sunday Funday
- This is the third Sunday matinee for the Tigers so far this season. The Tigers are 2-0 in those Sunday contests.
- Fort Hays State is scheduled to play a fourth Sunday game on January 22 at Emporia State.
- This is the first time the Tigers have been scheduled to play four regular season games on Sunday since the 2000-01 season. The Tigers lost to Bentley College and Emporia State before defeating Southern Colorado and New Mexico Highlands in those Sunday contests.
- The Tigers are 11-5 when playing on a Sunday during the Hobson era, including a 9-2 mark in the regular season and a 2-3 record on Championship Sunday of the MIAA Tournament.
- This is just the third time the Tigers have had multiple Sunday contests scheduled in the regular season during the Hobson era.
- The Tigers have won four in a row on Sunday overall and eight in a row in the regular season.
Home Cooking
- This is the 50th season of basketball inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
- The women are 552-134 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 153-14 at home since the start of the 2012-13 season (.916).
- FHSU is 194-31 (.862) at home under Hobson, including a 119-24 record in conference games and a 75-7 mark in non-conference games.
- FHSU has not lost more than three games at home in a season since 2010-11.
Series History with Newman
- Fort Hays State is 22-1 all-time against the Jets, including a perfect 13-0 mark at home.
- The Tigers have won each of the last 12 meetings.
- The lone Jet win occurred 12 years ago in Wichita (66-52, 11/23/10).
- The Tigers are 13-1 against Newman during the Hobson era, including an 8-0 record at home.
- Fort Hays State averages 78.7 points per game when playing Newman.
- The Tigers outscored Newman 17-2 in the first quarter and 36-7 in the first half in a 49-point rout last season in Wichita, 79-30 (2/3/22). It was FHSU's largest margin of victory in an MIAA game and was the second-fewest points allowed against a Division II opponent during the Hobson era (50-28 at Northeastern State, 2/28/15). Newman's two points in the first period were tied for the fewest allowed in a quarter in team history.
Series History with Bethany
- The Tigers are 20-3 all-time against the Swedes, including a 16-3 record at home.
- Fort Hays State has won seven in a row in the series.
- The last 15 games in the series have been played inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. FHSU's last trip to Lindsborg was on November 21, 1988.
- Bethany has two wins over the Tigers during FHSU's DII era.
- Fort Hays State is 6-0 against the Swedes during the Hobson era.
- FHSU averages 75.6 points per game when playing Bethany.
- The Tigers forced 32 turnovers in a 92-40 win over the Swedes in the most recent meeting three years ago (12/11/19).
On This Day
- The Tigers are 3-2 in recorded history on December 18.
- All three Dec. 18 contests have been played since 1993.
- Most recently, Fort Hays State defeated Northeastern State at home in 2020, 80-60.
- The Tigers are 8-2 in recorded history on December 19.
- Most recently, Fort Hays State defeated Newman at home in 2021, 90-44.
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 321-112 as a Tiger and 731-218 all-time.
- Hobson ranks third all-time amongst MIAA head coaches with 321 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 Jets
- Newman enters Sunday 4-6 overall and 1-4 in MIAA play after losing four in a row.
- The Jets are 1-3 in true road games on the year.
- Newman ranks eighth in the MIAA in scoring offense, averaging 68.0 points per night.
- The Jets rank 12th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 69.8 points each game.
- Newman ranks first in the MIAA with a 3-point field goal percentage of .373.
- Britney Ho ranks third in the MIAA with a team-best 17.7 points per game. The senior center has scored in double figures in all but one game so far this season, including five contests with more than 20 points and two double-doubles.
- Maddie Spagnola's 4.0 assists per game are fifth-most in the MIAA.
Scouting the Swedes
- Bethany has won seven of its last nine games over the last month, improving its record to 9-5 overall and 7-2 in the KCAC.
- The Swedes average 69.4 points per game while allowing just 61.6 points per outing.
- Bethany knocks down 41.2 percent from the floor as a team.
- Emily Weathers (11.6 ppg) and Autumn Garrett (10.7 ppg) both average in double figures in scoring for the Swedes.
- Weathers and Sarah Reiner are tied for the team lead with 5.1 rebounds per game, while R'Manie Pulling dishes out a team-best 2.4 assists per night.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will return to competition after the holiday break on New Year's Eve against No. 17 Central Missouri on the road. First tip is set for 1 p.m. FHSU's next home game is scheduled for Thursday, January 5 against third-ranked Missouri Southern beginning at 5:30 p.m.