Newman (3-11, 3-11 MIAA) at
#11 Fort Hays State (11-2, 11-2 MIAA)
Thursday, February 4, 2021 • 5:30 p.m.
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Game Sponsor - Cancer Council of Ellis County
The 11th-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens a busy weekend at home Thursday (Feb. 4) when the Tigers host Newman beginning at 5:30 p.m. FHSU will continue the weekend Saturday against Central Oklahoma at 4 p.m. (NEW TIME) before hosting Missouri Western in a rescheduled game on Monday (Feb. 8) at 5:30 p.m.
The Tigers (11-2, 11-2 MIAA) are playing as a ranked team for the first time this season after coming in ranked 11th in the first set of WBCA coaches rankings, released Tuesday. Fort Hays State is 100-29 all-time when ranked in the WBCA Top 25, including a perfect 4-0 record when ranked 11th.
Fort Hays State defeated Newman by 20 points on the road earlier this season, using a season-high 31 points in the third quarter to pull away, 68-48 (12/12/21).
The Tigers are 19-1 all-time against the Jets, including a perfect 11-0 record at home. Fort Hays State has won each of the last nine meetings, with the lone Newman win coming in 2010. FHSU is 10-1 against the Jets under head coach Tony Hobson, including a 6-0 mark at home. All 20 games in series history have been decided by at least 10 points.
Fort Hays State is coming off back-to-back wins over No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney last week, helping the Tigers move into a tie for first place in the loss column in the MIAA. Five Tigers scored in double figures in Saturday's home win against the Lopers, just the second time the Tigers have had five different players with 10 or more points this year.
Cydney Bergmann is averaging 9.3 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last four games. Whitney Randall continues to lead the team in scoring at home, averaging 16.5 points per game inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Newman is 3-11 on the year, including losses in each of its last five games. The Jets are 1-4 in road games this season, with the lone road win coming at Washburn in December. Newman ranks last in the MIAA in scoring offense, averaging just 53.2 points per game this season. Their defense is sixth-best in the league, allowing 62.3 points each night. They hit 33.8 percent from the floor, last in the MIAA and 186th out of 202 Division II teams this season. Brooke Haney leads the team with 11.2 points per game while Madison Birnbaum averages a team-high 5.8 rebounds.
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