No. 5/14 Fort Hays State (7-1, 2-1 MIAA) vs.
Central Oklahoma (7-3, 3-1 MIAA)
Friday, December 17, 2021 • 5:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Riverside Chiropractic
National Anthem: Carter Muehleisen
Promotions: FHSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation
Halftime Performance: Tiger Debs
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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The fifth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens a stretch of three games in four days Friday (Dec. 17) when the Tigers host Central Oklahoma. First tip between the Tigers (7-1, 2-1 MIAA) and Bronchos (7-3, 3-1 MIAA) is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Fort Hays State is looking to bounce back after dropping its first game of the season last weekend, while the Bronchos head into Friday on a three-game winning streak. The Tigers have not lost back-to-back games at home since January 2011.
Katie Wagner continues to lead the Tigers in scoring (17.6 ppg) and rebounding (10.9 rpg). She is one of five Tigers averaging at least 12.0 points at home this year, with Wagner (15.8 ppg), Olivia Hollenbeck (14.0), Whitney Randall (12.0), Jaden Hobbs (12.0) and Lauren West (12.0) all scoring in double figures inside Gross Memorial Coliseum this season.
Hollenbeck has hit 62.3 percent from the floor this season (38-of-61), helping the Tigers to a team shooting percentage of 43.7 percent, fourth-best in the MIAA. FHSU leads the conference in rebounding margin, with the Tigers grabbing an average of eight more rebounds than their opponents on a nightly basis.
Hobbs has played four games against the Bronchos and has scored in double figures each time. The Alva, Okla. native averages 14.5 points and 4.8 assists against UCO. Hollenbeck nearly averaged one point per minute in her last appearance against the Bronchos, scoring 18 points in 19 minutes in a 73-58 Tiger victory last season in Hays (2/6/21).
Friday will be Randall's 131st game as a Tiger. She ranks fifth on the DII active player list in games played.
Fort Hays State holds a 14-5 edge in the all-time series, including wins in each of the last three meetings and victories in six of the last seven contests. The teams split a home-and-home series late in FHSU's NAIA era (1989-90) before resuming the series in 2013 when UCO joined the MIAA. The Black and Gold are 9-1 against the Bronchos in Hays. The Tigers are 13-4 against UCO under Hobson and 8-1 in games played in Hays.
The Bronchos have played well at home this season, winning all for games, but are just 3-3 away from Hamilton Field House so far this year. UCO leads the MIAA in both rebounds (41.2 per game) and assists (17.3 per game). The Bronchos are scoring 73.0 points per game but allowing 67.1 points per game, fourth-most in the MIAA. Kelsey Johnson leads the nation with eight double-doubles in 10 games so far this year. She is third in the league in scoring (19.4 ppg) and second in rebounding (11.0). Alayzha Knapp is the only other Broncho scoring in double figures on a nightly basis, averaging right at 10.0 ppg. Head coach Guy Hardaker is in his 16th year at the helm and holds a record of 288-161.