FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (16-5, 10-5 MIAA)
vs. Newman (2-19, 1-14 MIAA)
Thursday, February 8, 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: American Family Insurance - Brian Ruder Agency
National Anthem: Stockton K-12 (Women's), Hays Middle School (Men's)
Promotions: Mascot Night - Victor E. Tiger and his mascot buddies hang out for pictures, high fives, and fun throughout the games. They will be out on the court for a fun activity at halftime of the men's game.
FHSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation - All Fort Hays State faculty and staff can receive two free tickets to the games.
Halftime Entertainment: Styles Dance performance
The Fort Hays State women's basketball team returns home to host the Newman Jets Thursday evening (Feb. 8), with opening tip slated for 5:30 p.m.
The Tigers (16-5, 10-5 MIAA) are looking for their 16th-consecutive win over Newman, while the Jets (2-19, 1-14) are trying to snap an eight-game losing skid.
After playing nine of their first 15 conference games on the road, the Tigers will wrap up the regular season by hosting five of their final seven games at home. Fort Hays State will have several tests down the stretch, including games against four of the top seven teams in the conference standings.
Fort Hays State currently sits in a tie for third in the league standings alongside Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State. The Tigers are three games behind top-ranked Missouri Southern and two games back of second-place Missouri Western.
The Tigers are led in scoring by Katie Wagner, with the junior ranking fifth in the MIAA with an average of 16.6 points per game.
Emma Ruddle has played tremendously in each of the last three games against Newman, averaging 15.7 points per game in those three contests including a career-high 21 points last season on the road.
Fort Hays State has won 25 of the 26 meetings all-time, including all 14 games played in Hays. The Tigers have won 15 in a row against Newman, FHSU's second-longest active streak against an MIAA rival (W17 vs Lincoln). The Tigers are 1-0 against the Jets during the Kahrs era.
The Tigers' suffocating defense to top Newman by 50 points earlier this season in Wichita, 85-35 (12/17/23). It was the largest margin of victory for the Tigers in an MIAA game since FHSU joined the league in 2006. Newman did not hit a field goal in the first quarter, with the Tigers leading 18-4 at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers then scored 51 points after halftime, three points shy of their most ever in a half in an MIAA contest.
Newman heads to Hays with an overall record of 2-19 and a conference mark of 1-14. The Jets are 1-7 in road games this year, with the lone road win coming at Emporia State. The Jets have lost each of their last eight games. The Jets rank 287th out of 291 Division II teams in scoring margin (-20.8). Newman ranks second in the conference and 22nd nationally with 4.4 blocks per game, led by Delainey Wylie who ranks second in the MIAA with 2.0 blocks per contest. Carissa Beck leads the Jets in scoring, averaging 8.6 points per game.