The Fort Hays State women's basketball team will be playing their fourth game in eight days on Monday night (Jan. 9) when they play host to MIAA foe Missouri Southern. The Lady Tigers are coming off a 64-55 win over Southwest Baptist on Saturday afternoon which improved their record to 13-2 (5-2 MIAA), eclipsing last season's win total.
The series between Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern dates back to the 1976-77 season, with FHSU winning two of three meetings that season. The teams competed as members of the Central States Intercollegiate Conference from the '76-77 season until the 1988-89 season, playing at least twice each season. FHSU would not meet Missouri Southern in women's basketball again until joining the MIAA in 2006-07. The Lady Tigers are 4-6 against the Lions since then, including 3-2 in games played in Hays. Missouri Southern swept the season series last year and they have won three straight games of FHSU overall.
Missouri Southern started the year 4-2 against non-conference foes, but they have struggled since MIAA conference play started. The Lions are just 1-7 in MIAA games, including losses in each of their last five games. The schedule has not been kind the Missouri Southern, who has faced nationally ranked Emporia State, Pittsburg State and Washburn in their last three games. Erin Rice is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 15.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
The top four teams in the MIAA standings are the four conference teams from the state of Kansas. Fort Hays State is the only one of those four teams not currently ranked in the Top 25, although the Lady Tigers did receive 66 votes in the latest USA Today ESPN Division II Coaches' Poll. Pittsburg State is ranked No. 13 and they have improved to 14-0 after beating No. 19 Emporia State on Saturday. Washburn, one of two teams to knock off FHSU this year, checked in at No. 20 in the most recent poll with a record of 13-3. Fort Hays State is the highest MIAA team receiving votes, while UCM and Truman are in that category as well. Fort Hays State has not been ranked in the Top 25 since February 17, 1997.
Saturday's win over Southwest Baptist improved FHSU to 13-2 on the year, eclipsing their win total of 12 from one year ago. FHSU finished the 2010-11 season with a 12-14 record and failed to make the MIAA Postseason Tournament for the first time under Head Coach
Tony Hobson, but this year's team has bounced back and is off to one of the best starts in school history. Fort Hays State started the year 12-1 for just the third time in school history this year and the first time as a member of NCAA Division II. The 12-1 mark was the best since the 1990-91 team started 14-1 on their way to winning the NAIA National Championship. The 1971-72 team also started 12-1 before dropping the final game of the year against Kansas State to finish at 12-2.
