No. 9/10 Fort Hays State (21-3, 15-3 MIAA) at
Lincoln (5-19, 1-17 MIAA)
Thursday, February 17, 2022 • 5:30 p.m.
Jefferson City, Mo. • Jason Gym
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
FHSU Athletics
The ninth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team is back on the road this weekend to face off with Lincoln on Thursday (Feb. 17) in Jefferson City, Mo. First tip between the Black and Gold Tigers and the Blue Tigers is set for 5:30 p.m.
With just four games remaining on the schedule, Fort Hays State (21-3, 15-3 MIAA) enters the penultimate weekend of the regular season tied for first place in the MIAA standings. The Tigers have secured a spot in the 2022 MIAA Basketball Championship, presented by Citizen's Bank & Trust, but still have work to do if they want to win a second-consecutive regular season MIAA title. With just 10 teams advancing to the championship tournament, Lincoln (5-19, 1-17 MIAA) has been mathematically eliminated from postseason competition.
Several Tigers are approaching point milestones, including Whitney Randall advancing on 1,300 career points (1,291 points), Jaden Hobbs moving in on 1,000 points at FHSU (961), Katie Wagner bearing down on 600 points (585), Olivia Hollenbeck nearing 500 points (496), Jessie Sallach approaching 300 points (292), Lauren West drawing nearer to 200 points as a Tiger (191) and Kate Dilsaver closing in on 100 points (86 points).
Hobbs has had success against Lincoln in the past, averaging 15.0 points and 6.3 assists in four career matchups. She's scored in double figures in each game, including a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a blowout win earlier this season (92-57, 1/8/22). Wagner led the team with 21 points in that contest. She averages 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in three games against LU.
The Tigers enter the weekend ranked first in the NCAA DII Central Region rankings. The top seed in the final regional ranks will have the opportunity to host the regional tournament March 11-14.
Fort Hays State has dominated the battle of the Tigers, winning 13 in a row and 16 of 17 all-time. Fort Hays State has never lost on the road in Jefferson City, going 7-0 all-time. The entire series has been played during the Hobson era. All but one of the games over FHSU's current 13-game winning streak have been decided by more than 10 points.
The Blue Tigers are 3-8 at home this season and have lost their last nine contests overall. Lincoln averages 59.3 points per game and hit 37.1 percent from the floor while allowing opponents to score 74.0 points each night and a field goal percentage of 44.6 percent. Le'Yanna McGinnis leads the team with an average of 9.1 points per night while hitting 48 percent from the floor. Imani Jones ranks eighth in the MIAA with an average of 2.4 offensive rebounds per game.