Feb 11, 2021

🏀📻 No. 9 FHSU women look for 10th straight win at Rogers State

Posted Feb 11, 2021 4:30 PM
Jessie Sallach (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Nicole Heitmann)
Jessie Sallach (Courtesy FHSU Athletics, Nicole Heitmann)

#9 Fort Hays State (14-2, 14-2 MIAA) at
Rogers State (5-11, 5-11 MIAA)

Thursday, February 11, 2021 5:30 p.m.
Claremore, Oklahoma Claremore Expo Center
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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After wrapping up a four-game home stand earlier in the week, the No. 9 Fort Hays State basketball team heads back out on the road this weekend in search of its 10th-consecutive victory. The Tigers (14-2, 14-2 MIAA) have a chance to secure the 13th double digit winning streak in program history Thursday (Feb. 11) against Rogers State (5-11, 5-11 MIAA). First tip from Claremore, Okla. is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Fans are permitted to attend Hillcat events in a reduced capacity, with limited tickets are available through the RSU athletic department.

The Tigers are 3-0 against the Hillcats, with all three meetings coming in the last 13 months. Fort Hays State came away with a narrow 71-69 win in its only trip to Claremore last season (1/11/2020).

Jaden Hobbs dished out 11 assists, two shy of the program record, and added 11 points for her first career double-double while the Tiger defense forced 15 turnovers in an 83-58 win over the Hillcats earlier this season in Hays (12/20/2020).

Hobbs averages 13.0 points and 5.7 assists in three games against RSU. Whitney Randall scores 9.7 points and grabs 4.7 rebounds per game in three contests with the Hillcats. Cydney Bergmann has appeared in three games against RSU, averaging 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. The freshman trio of Katie Wagner (13 points), Olivia Hollenbeck (10 points) and Jessie Sallach all scored in double figures in their first game against Rogers State.

The Tigers are 14-5 when playing in the State of Oklahoma under head coach Tony Hobson, including wins in their last five games on the red dirt.

A win Thursday would be Fort Hays State's 100th victory as a ranked team under Hobson (99-28). Fort Hays State heads to Claremore as the No. 9 team in the country in the latest WBCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Tigers are 3-1 all-time when ranked ninth in the coaches poll.

Freshmen are playing a big role for the Tigers this season, with the combination of Sydney Golladay, Hollenbeck, Emma Ruddle, Sallach, Carly Thompson and Wagner playing 41.5 percent of the minutes (1328:34) and scoring 39.0 percent of the points (28.3 ppg) for FHSU.

Fort Hays State ranks in the top 10 in Division II in two categories, including assist/turnover ratio (1.33, 6th) and assists (260, 7th).

Rogers State enters the week 5-11 on the year, including a 2-6 mark at home. The Hillcats are 4-4 over the last month, including wins over Northeastern State, Lincoln, Newman and Washburn. The Hillcats rank fourth in the country with 67 blocked shots this year, averaging a league-high 4.2 blocks per night. RSU ranks sixth in the MIAA in scoring offense at 66.1 points per night and 13th in scoring defense at 74.1 points allowed each game. Samariah Thompson ranks seventh in the MIAA with 16.6 points per night and is third in the league in assists, averaging 4.5 per contest.    

FHSU Athletics