The Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks for a second-straight victory Saturday (Jan. 20) when Northwest Missouri State travels to Hays for the first time since 2013. First tip is set for 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
*All students K-12 get in FREE all day Saturday thanks to our game sponsor, Eagle Communications!*
 
The Tigers head into the weekend 13-4 on the year and 4-4 in league play, while the Bearcats (1-16, 0-9 MIAA) are looking to bring an end to a 14-game losing streak. Northwest Missouri State snapped a long streak in the last meeting between the Tigers and Bearcats, ending an eight-game skid against FHSU last season in Maryville (92-80, 1/21/17).
 
Fort Hays State is coming off one of its best defensive performances of the season, holding Missouri Western to its fewest points since joining NCAA Division II in Thursday's 58-36 win. The Tigers made as many steals (11) as MWSU made field goals.
 
Northwest Missouri State controlled the series in the early years, but Fort Hays State rallied to win eight-straight contests from 2010-2016. The Tigers now hold the lead in the all-time series, 12-10, including a 7-2 lead and seven-consecutive wins in Hays. Due to a scheduling oddity in the MIAA temporarily going to 22 conference games two years ago, the Bearcats have not traveled to Gross Memorial Coliseum since 2014. Tony Hobson is 10-4 against the Bearcats at FHSU, including a perfect 6-0 home record.
 
The balanced Tiger offense can be difficult for opposing coaches to prepare for, with seven different players leading the team in scoring in at least one game this season. The Tigers are one of two programs in the MIAA sporting four players averaging more than 9.5 points per game (Pittsburg State). Fort Hays State has fared much better inside the friendly confines of Gross Memorial Coliseum as opposed to on the road, scoring north of 75 points per game at home while posting just 62.5 points per road game.
 
Despite their marks in the win and loss columns, NWMSU has been right in the thick of things multiple times over the last week. The Bearcats let fourth-quarter, 10-point leads disappear against Southwest Baptist and Nebraska-Kearney in two of their last three games. Northwest Missouri leads the conference with 8.8 3-point field goals per game, ranking 13th nationally. However, they rank second to last in points scored in the MIAA, scoring just 61.8 points per night, while giving up a league-high 74.9 points each contest. All-MIAA performer Tanya Meyer leads the team in her senior season, nearly averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.