For the second time this season, a pair of nationally ranked women's teams collide in Hays when 18th-ranked Fort Hays State hosts 12th-ranked Washburn on Thursday evening (Jan. 10) in Hays. The Lady Tigers enter the game at 10-2 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA and are looking to snap a two-game losing streak after opening the year 10-0. Washburn enters at 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA.
Washburn is the only remaining unbeaten team in MIAA play for women's basketball, although both conference wins have been tough for the Lady Blues this year. Washburn edged Southwest Baptist in double overtime earlier this year in Topeka and is coming off a four-point win at Central Oklahoma (a team receiving votes in the latest national rankings) this past Saturday. Washburn was rated as high as No. 6 in the nation this year before falling to No. 12 in the latest poll. Washburn is still the highest nationally ranked team from the MIAA, which has four teams currently in the Top 25 of the WBCA Poll.
Fort Hays State is coming off road losses at Northeastern State and Emporia State this past week, a pair of teams that each graced the national rankings to begin the year but have since fell out of the Top 25. The Lady Tigers are looking for their second win over Washburn since joining the MIAA in 2006-07. The only win in 13 tries occurred in 2010-11 in Hays when the Lady Blues were ranked No. 11 at the time and FHSU was unranked. Washburn holds a 43-26 advantage and won by a score of 67-60 last year in Hays.
Fort Hays State won its only other meeting with a ranked team earlier this year in Hays, a 95-50 blowout win over then No. 23 Central Missouri when FHSU was No. 17 in the nation. It moved the Lady Tigers to 2-0 all-time in games where both they and their opponent are ranked.
Kate Lehman continues to lead FHSU in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. She is averging 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.5 blocked shots per game. She leads the nation in blocked shots per game and ranks second in the MIAA in scoring and fourth in the MIAA in rebounding.
Katelyn Edwards is also averaging double figures in scoring at 13.5 points per game and adds 8.3 rebounds per contest.
Laura Kinderknecht is the top scorer for Washburn at 15.7 points per game. Tiara George is also averaging double figures at 13.3 points per game.
