No. 3 Fort Hays State returns home this weekend for two games, beginning with its annual Pink Game against rival Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday (Feb. 5) at 5:30 p.m. FHSU has won eight straight against the Lopers (including three last season) and will look to keep that streak alive in the first of two regular season matchups between the teams this season.
FHSU (20-1, 12-0 MIAA) is in the hunt for a top seed in the MIAA Tournament and the NCAA Central Region, joining six other teams from the Northern Sun, the MIAA and the GAC - Harding (16-3), Arkansas Tech (16-3), Northern State (19-3), Wayne State (19-3), Emporia State (17-2) and Pittsburg State (20-3) - with three or fewer losses on the year. The Tigers hold a two-game lead over ESU and PSU in the conference standings.
The Tigers are coming off a historical two wins last week, taking down previously second-ranked Emporia State, 65-55, and rival Washburn, 62-58, in road games. The Tigers hadn't won at ESU since the 1995-96 season, nor at Lee Arena against WU since the 1994-95 season. The wins also pushed FHSU to its fourth consecutive 20-win season, a first in program history.
Six-time MIAA Athlete of the Week
Kate Lehman leads the Tigers with 20.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.4 blocks per game, ranking among the nations' and conference's best in those categories. Behind her,
Chelsea Mason has hit 48 three-pointers on the year and is averaging 12.5 points per game while
Jill Faxon is just below the double-digit mark (9.5 points per game) but has reached the 10-point threshold in the previous four games.
UNK (11-10, 5-7 MIAA) has dropped three of its last four after stringing together four straight wins, sitting in a tie for eighth in the conference. Amarah Williams leads the team with 16 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while Laramey Lewis is close behind at 15.5 points and 7.1 rebounds on averaged. Additionally, Lewis leads the team with 43 made three-pointers on the year, teaming with McKenzie Brown (11.9 points per game, 39 made three-pointers) as potent threats from long range. Two other Lopers, Kelsey Fitzgerald (11.7 ppg) and Alexa Hogberg (10.2 ppg) are in double-digits for a team that averages 70.9 points per game.
With a win, FHSU would tie its longest single-season win streak in program history (20), set during the 1990-91 NAIA Championship season. That 20-game win streak stretched into the 1991-92 season and eventually reached 23 games.
Fort Hays State will wear its white jerseys with pink trim for Thursday's game in recognition of Breast Cancer awareness.
