Game Notes I Live Stats I Listen Live I Watch Live
The Fort Hays State women's basketball faces their toughest test to date on Wednesday evening (Dec. 8) as they travel to Topeka to take on the No. 4 Washburn Lady Blues. The Tigers are looking to break a 15-game losing streak against Washburn, one that dates back to December 3, 1994 when FHSU downed the Lady Blues in Topeka by a score of 67-62.
The Tigers are led this season by junior
Kimber Weiser, who has scored in double figures in each of the past four games after averaging just 10 minutes per game in the first two games. Weiser, who scored a career-high 21 points against Nebraska-Omaha on Friday, is averaging a team-high 11.7 points per game and shooting 43.1% (25-58) from the field.
Rhys Pihl is the only other Lady Tiger who is averaging double figures in points, at 10.8 per game. The junior transfer is FHSU's top 3-point threat, making 12-of-35 (34.3%) attempts for the year, and the top free throw shooter, hitting 17-of-25 (68%) attempts so far.
Kara Champlin got her first start of the year against Nebraska-Omaha, and she responded with a career-high 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field. She also had seven rebounds and three steals in the contest. Champlin leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.8 per game, and is the third-leading scorer at 9.0 points per game. She has also made a team-high 67.7% (21-for-31) of her field goal attempts.
Crista Bechard,
Kaniesha Pettaway, and
Kelsie Sorenson have been the mainstays in the Fort Hays State starting lineup, with each starting all six games so far. Bechard is averaging a team-high 29.2 minutes per game and is second on the team in assists, averaging 3.5 per game. Pettaway leads the team in assists (4.3/game) and steals (2.2/game), both of which put her in the top five in the MIAA. Sorenson has been one of the better defenders for the Lady Tigers, and she has season averages 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Washburn is ranked No. 4 in the latest WBCA Top 25 and enter the game 6-0, 2-0 in the MIAA. FHSU and Washburn are two of four teams that have started off MIAA conference play with a 2-0 record (Emporia State, Truman). The Lady Blues are led by Cassie Lombardino who averages 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Laura Kinderknecht (13.5 ppg), Stevi Schultz (11.2), and Alyssa Mullen (10.8) are also averaging double figures in points for Washburn.
Fort Hays State continues their three-game conference road trip on Saturday (Dec. 11) with a trip to Missouri Western, followed by a visit the next Saturday (Dec. 18) to Northwest Missouri State.
