Fort Hays State Women's Basketball welcomes Central Oklahoma to Gross Memorial Coliseum this Thursday (Jan. 15) as part of a pivotal week of MIAA and regional action.  Thursday's contest, which begins at 5:30 p.m., is the first of two meetings between the squads this season and kicks off a four-game homestand for the Tigers.
 
FHSU (14-1, 7-0 MIAA) completed the eastern portion of its conference schedule with an unblemished MIAA mark, winning 13 straight after a loss in the first weekend of the season. First place in the MIAA standings, the Tigers sit as the highest vote getter in the receiving votes section of the most recent WBCA Top 25 rankings, and will to remain unbeaten in the New Year.
 
Kate Lehman has put together three consecutive double-doubles while leading the team with averages of 21.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game.  Keriann Shaw has provided a spark over the last three games for FHSU, averaging 10.6 points and 11 rebounds per game in that span while recording her first two career double-doubles. Outside, Chelsea Mason leads the team with 36 made three-pointers, shooting 31.3 percent from long range while sitting second on the team at 13.1 points per game this season.
 
UCO (13-3, 6-1 MIAA) is tied for third in the conference standings midway through the year, dropping its only conference game to Central Missouri in December. Haley Weathers (11.3 points per game), Olivia Mason (11.0 ppg) and Kylie Mayes (10.2 ppg) lead the team as double-digit scorers, while Julia Mason is grabbing a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game.  The Bronchos are scoring 71.1 points per contest, shooting 43.6 percent from the field over the first 16 games.