FHSU Athletics
No. 19 Fort Hays State (14-3, 8-3 MIAA)
vs. Washburn (11-6, 6-5 MIAA)
Thursday, January 25, 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: Domino's Pizza
National Anthem: Holy Family Elementary - Joyful Noise Singers (Women's Game); New Beginnings Preschool (Men's game)
Promotions: FHSU Center for Student Success/Greek Life Night - activities and giveaways for FHSU students
The 19th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will open the second half of its conference schedule Thursday evening when in-state rival Washburn comes to town. First tip between the Tigers (14-3, 8-3 MIAA) and Ichabods (11-6, 6-5 MIAA) is set for 5:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
After playing the majority of their conference games on the road up to this point, the Tigers will wrap up the season with seven home games out of the final 11 regular season contests. The Tigers are tied for second in the league standings at the midway point, one game behind Missouri Southern.
This is Washburn's first road trip to Hays since December 2020, a game that happened to be the FHSU debut for true freshmen Olivia Hollenbeck, Sydney Golladay, Jessie Sallach and Katie Wagner. Wagner scored 17 points in that game, one of three double-digit performances against the Ichabods in her career. She averages 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in three games against WU in her career. Hollenbeck puts up 9.0 points per game in three games against the Ichabods, including 13 points in a road win in 2021.
Wagner needs seven points to tie Naomi Bancroft (1,449 points, 2006-10) for eighth on the all-time scoring list at Fort Hays State, while Hollenbeck recently moved into 17th after passing Kelly Priest (1,183 points, 1997-01) on Saturday.
Fort Hays State is the only MIAA school without back-to-back losses this season. The Tiger defense leads the league and ranks 13th in Division II after allowing just 55.2 points per game so far this year. FHSU also ranks 17th in the country in fouls per game (14.2) 18th in assist/turnover ratio (1.12), 21st in turnovers per game (13.5) and 24th in scoring margin (+14.0).
While Washburn leads the all-time series 47-39, the Tigers have been dominant of late. FHSU has won seven in a row, its longest winning streak in series history, and 12 of the last 13 over the last nine years. The Tigers are 20-21 against the Ichabods in Hays, including wins in each of the last seven home games against WU. Washburn's last win in Hays was 11 years ago (1/10/13, 63-60). The series is tied 2-2 when the game goes into overtime.
The Ichabods are 11-6 this season, including a 3-4 record in true road games. WU ended a three-game losing skid with a double-digit win over No. 25 Pittsburg State, 75-62. Washburn leads the MIAA with 15.4 free throws made per game while ranking second in 3-pointers made with 6.9 per night. Yibari Nwidadah leads the conference and ranks 10th nationally with eight double-doubles this season. She also paces the league and ranks 21st in DII with 10.1 rebounds per ga