FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (19-6, 13-6 MIAA)
vs. Pittsburg State (19-5, 13-5 MIAA)
Thursday, February 22, 2024 • 5:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: The MIAA Network CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Game Sponsor: High Plains Farm Credit
National Anthem: Fort Hays Singers - Terry Crull, conductor
Promotions: FHSU Student Night - prizes given away to students throughout the evening
Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Toss - Donate to BBBS for a chance to win BIG in a duck toss at halftime of the men's game
Halftime Entertainment: Jackie Creamer's The Dance Studio performance at both halftimes
The Fort Hays State women's basketball team returns home to wrap up the regular season with three-consecutive games inside Gross Memorial Coliseum starting Thursday when the Tigers host Pittsburg State. Opening tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
The Tigers (19-6, 13-6 MIAA) and Gorillas (19-5, 13-5 MIAA) are in the middle of a logjam atop the conference standings with two weeks remaining in the regular season. Six different teams still have a chance to finish atop the league, with just three games separating first place and sixth place in the standings.
Fort Hays State picked up a big road win over the Gorillas earlier this season, pulling away in the second half to win by double figures, 68-53 (1/13/24). The Tigers are 3-1 so far this season with a chance to complete a season sweep against a conference rival.
Fort Hays State is celebrating the 50th anniversary season of Gross Memorial Coliseum this weekend. The Tigers are 565-140 all-time inside GMC, good for a winning percentage north of 80 percent.
The Tigers need one win to extend Division II's longest active streak of 20-win seasons to 13. The Tigers have reached the 20-win plateau each year since 2011-12. The next-best active streak of 20-win seasons in the MIAA is four from Nebraska-Kearney.
Fort Hays State ranks in the top 20 in three statistical categories, including assist/turnover ratio (12th, 1.20), turnovers per game (13th, 13.0) and fouls per game (18th, 14.1).
Sydney Golladay ranks ninth in Fort Hays State history with 326 career assists. She is five away from matching Shauna Porter for eighth all-time (331 assists).Currently ranked fourth all-time at FHSU in career rebounds, Katie Wagner (890 rebounds) needs 11 boards to match Chris Biser for third in Tiger history (901 rebounds).
Wagner averages 17.6 points in five career games against Pittsburg State, including one 30-point outing, two games with 20 or more points and at least 10 points in all five meetings.
Fort Hays State has three players ranked in the top 11 in the MIAA in assists, including Golladay (sixth, 87 assists), Brooke Loewe (11th, 66 assists) and Wagner (11th, 66 assists).
Fort Hays State leads the all-time series with Pittsburg State, 35-29. The Tigers are 20-11 at home against the Gorillas. PSU picked up a road win over the Tigers last season, ending a seven-game winning streak for the Tigers at home in the series. FHSU is 1-0 against the Gorillas under head coach Talia Kahrs, with the Tigers picking up a road win over PSU earlier this season. The teams have played once on this date, a 72-61 home victory for the Tigers in 2012.
After dropping four-of-five to start the new calendar year, Pittsburg State has won seven in a row to improve to 19-5 on the year and 13-5 in league play. Their seven-game winning streak is second-longest in the conference. The Gorillas are 10-3 in road games. Pittsburg State leads the nation with 31.4 defensive rebounds per game. They rank 12th in the country and second in the MIAA with a plus-8.1 rebound margin.
The Gorillas rank first in the conference and eighth in DII with a shooting percentage of 46.6 percent. They score 77.0 points per night, tops in the MIAA and 11th-best in the country. Two Gorillas average more than 16 points per game, including Grace Pyle (16.8 ppg) and Karenna Gerber (16.4 ppg). Gerber leads the MIAA and ranks eighth in Division II with a shooting percentage of 59.2 percent.