The Fort Hays State women's basketball team returns to MIAA play this week when the Tigers travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on No. 11 Central Missouri Thursday (Jan. 4). First tip is set for 5:30 p.m. from the UCM Multipurpose Building.
 
The Tigers, winners of their last four contests, head into the clash 11-2 on the year and 2-2 in the league, while the Jennies have won six in a row to move to 9-1 this season and 3-0 in conference action.
 
Fort Hays State has a chance to tie the all-time series with UCM on Thursday, with the Jennies heading into the contest with a 13-12 edge in the series. The Tigers, however, have won the last five contests, the longest winning streak for either team. Central Missouri holds a 7-3 advantage in games played in Warrensburg. Tony Hobson is 10-8 against the Jennies in his tenure at FHSU, including a 2-4 mark on the road.
 
Fort Hays State is 6-3 in their first game of the new year under Hobson, with the last loss coming in 2013-14 on the road against Missouri Southern (76-71, 1/4/14).
 
The Tigers rank in the top 10 nationally in several crucial categories, including turnovers (ninth, 12.2 turnovers per game), scoring defense (seventh, 52.3 points allowed per game) and shooting percentage defense (ninth, 33.3 opponent shooting percentage). FHSU leads the conference in all three categories.
 
Central Missouri is ranked in the top 15 in both national polls, ranking 11th in the WBCA coaches poll and 12th in the D2SIDA media poll. The lone Jennie loss came at home against Arkansas-Fort Smith in the second weekend of the season, 77-76 (11/19/17). UCM ranks second in the MIAA with a 46.7 shooting percentage while limiting teams to 54.5 points per game, behind only FHSU in the league. Returning All-American Morgan Fleming (13.9 ppg) and Paige Redmond (13.8 ppg) lead a balanced Jennie offense with five other players scoring more than five points each night. Kayonna Lee takes care of things on the defensive end, pacing the team with 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks each night.