FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (19-9, 14-6 MIAA)
at Missouri Southern (21-6, 13-6 MIAA)
Saturday, February 18, 2023 • 1:30 p.m.
Joplin, Mo. • Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Radio: KJLS (103.3)
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The Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks to complete the season sweep against Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon when the Tigers and Lions battle in Joplin, Mo. beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Fort Hays State (19-9, 14-6 MIAA) enters the contest one-half game in front of the Lions (21-6, 13-6) in the league standings, with FHSU currently slotted fifth and MSSU sixth.
The Tigers took care of business at home against the Lions last month, winning 72-54 behind a career-high 16 points from Kate Dilsaver (1/5/23). Fort Hays State buried 50.0 percent from the floor (25-of-50) while limiting MSSU to a shooting percentage of 35.5 percent (22-of-62).
The Tigers and Lions are two of 10 teams listed in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, announced Wednesday by the NCAA office. Six MIAA programs are joined by three schools from the Northern Sun and one from the Great American Conference.
Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA 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.
The Tigers and Lions both rank in the top five nationally in turnovers per game (MSSU 4th - 11.9 TO/g, FHSU 5th - 12.0 TO/g). The Tigers need one win to reach 20 victories for the 12th-consecutive season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II.
Sydney Golladay's 118 assists are second-most in the MIAA and 27th-most in Division II. Olivia Hollenbeck has 121 blocks in her career, tied for sixth-most in program history (Jamie Heiman, 1999-03). She is five blocks behind Tatyana Legette (2015-19), who ranks fifth all-time with 126 blocks.
Katie Wagner put up a career-high 30 points Thursday at Pittsburg State, the most points scored by a Tiger in over eight years. She became the 24th player in FHSU history to reach 1,000 career points last week against Newman. Hollenbeck is 48 points away from becoming the 25th Tiger to accomplish the feat.
Fort Hays State is 38-19 all-time against Missouri Southern, including a 19-7 mark during the Tony Hobson era. Fort Hays State has won each of the last two matchups and nine of the last 10. The Tigers are 10-14 all-time in Joplin, including a 4-5 record under Hobson. FHSU has won two in a row on the road against the Lions.
MSSU ranks fourth nationally with 11.9 turnovers per game, sixth with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.30 and ninth with 4.9 blocks per night. The Lions have the second-best scoring defense in the MIAA, limiting opponents to 58.1 points per game. The Lions are 11-3 at home this season. Lacy Stokes leads the MIAA and ranks sixth nationally with 147 assists. Madi Stokes' 61 blocks are tops in the MIAA and third-most in DII.