#4 Nebraska-Kearney (12-1, 12-1 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (10-2, 10-2 MIAA)
Saturday, January 30, 2021 • 2 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Game Sponsor - Nex-Tech
After handing league-leading Nebraska-Kearney its first loss of the season Thursday, 61-49, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team will turn around and play the No. 4 Lopers once again on Saturday (Jan. 30). This time the rivals will battle inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, with the opening tip set for 2 p.m.
Tickets are available both online or by calling the FHSU Athletics office at (785) 628-4050
This is the fourth time the Tigers have played the same team in back-to-back games under head coach Tony Hobson, with each previous occurrence coming in the final regular season game and the first game of the MIAA Championship tournament. The Tigers defeated Northeastern State in consecutive games in 2015 and beat Lincoln twice in five days in 2013 while dropping two-straight against Emporia State in 2010.
The Tigers last played the same team in consecutive regular season contests during the 1992-93 season, against Washburn on 11/21/92 and 11/27/92 and Wayne State on 1/9/93 and 1/16/93.
After defeating the Tigers last season in Hays, 72-67, Nebraska-Kearney is looking to become the first road team to win back-to-back games inside Gross Memorial Coliseum since Washburn did so during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons (12/7/11 & 1/10/13).
This is the 96th meeting all-time between the Tigers and Lopers. Thursday's win helped the Tigers stretch their lead in the all-time series to 57-38. Fort Hays State holds a 34-12 edge in games played in Hays. Fort Hays State has won 18 of the last 21 meetings overall while UNK has won 2 of the last 3 inside the Coliseum. The Tigers are 18-4 against the Lopers under Hobson and 8-3 in games played in Hays.
Jaden Hobbs hit two more 3-pointers in Thursday's win, giving the senior 40 makes from behind the arc this season. That total leads the MIAA, ranks second in Division II and is tied for 16th across all NCAA Divisions. She was one of five Tigers to knock down shots from deep on Thursday, with Whitney Randall, Sydney Golladay, Madison Mittie and Emma Ruddle all joining in.
Nebraska-Kearney is 12-1 and ranked No. 4 in the country thanks to one of the top defenses in the nation. The Lopers are holding opponents to an average of 49.3 points per game, fourth-best in Division II. Their defense has allowed a 33.0 shooting percentage and a 22.9 percent effort from behind the arc, 13th-best and tenth-best in the country, respectively. Reigning MIAA Athlete of the Week Elisa Backes leads the Lopers with 10.1 points per game, with Klaire Kirsch grabbing an average of 9.4 rebounds per contest.
FHSU Athletics