The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks to end its losing streak at three games when it hosts Southwest Baptist on Wednesday evening (Jan. 16) in Hays at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm. The Lady Tigers enter at 10-3 overall, 2-3 in the MIAA, while Southwest Baptist enters at 6-8 overall, 1-5 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State looks to get back to .500 in conference play before heading on the road for a match-up against No. 24 ranked Pittsburg State on Saturday (Jan. 19) in Pittsburg. The loss to then No. 12 ranked Washburn last Thursday was the first home loss of the season for the Lady Tigers.
Despite the three straight losses, Fort Hays State continues to lead the MIAA and rank fourth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 50.6 points per game. FHSU also leads the MIAA and ranks fourth nationally in scoring margin at +22.9. FHSU is first in the MIAA in field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 33.8 percent overall and 26.2 percent beyond the arc, which rank 12th and 38th nationally. FHSU is also the conference leader in blocked shots, averaging 6.9 per game, which is second-best in the nation.
Kate Lehman continues to lead NCAA Division II in blocked shots per game (4.5) and leads FHSU in scoring (17.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.0 rpg).
Katelyn Edwards has also been a force for FHSU in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Both Lehman and Edwards have reached double figures in scoring in 12 of 13 games this year. Lehman has five double-doubles and Edwards has four in points and rebounds.
Southwest Baptist enters on a four-game losing streak, but has played two of the conference's nationally ranked teams very close this year. The Bearcats lost in double overtime earlier this year at Washburn, which is currently ranked No. 9, and also lost by just three at Central Missouri, which is currently the No. 11 team in the nation.
