The Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks to return to the win column on Thursday (Feb. 15) when Northeastern State makes the trip to Gross Memorial Coliseum. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
Thursday is Educator Appreciation Night, with all employees of USD 489 and TMP eligible to get in free! Just show your school ID card at the gate to receive one free ticket.
 
With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Tigers (19-5, 10-5) currently sit in a tie for fourth in the MIAA standings, fighting for a bye in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. The RiverHawks (9-13, 5-10) are 11th in the rankings, three games clear of 13th place and missing the tournaments.
 
The teams will play for the second time in a week after Fort Hays State came away with a big road victory last Thursday, 71-53.
 
Fort Hays State is 10-3 against Northeastern State all-time, including a perfect 4-0 record inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Tony Hobson is 10-2 against the RiverHawks. The Tigers have won nine straight games against NSU, their longest active winning streak against an MIAA opponent.
 
The Tigers have played some of their best basketball at home this season, scoring more than 75 points per game while shooting better than 45 percent inside the Coliseum, both well above their overall season average.
 
Tatyana Legette leads the team with 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The junior is the only player in the MIAA ranked in the top 15 in all three stat categories. Legette gets plenty of help on offense, with FHSU boasting one of the more balanced offensive attacks in the league. The Tigers are one of two teams in the league with five players scoring more than nine points per game. Carly Heim has been a major part of the offense over the last month, scoring in double figures in each of the last seven games, averaging 15.4 points and 2.9 assists per game over that span.
 
Northeastern State has played to a 9-13 record this season, losing five in a row and seven of its last eight.The RiverHawks are 3-7 in true road games this season. They average 64.3 points per contest while allowing 67.9 points every night, ranking 12th in the league in point differential. NSU ranks fifth in the conference in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot 38.2 percent this season. Cailyn Long leads the RiverHawks on offense, scoring 11.2 points per contest, while Tree Brooks ranks eighth in the MIAA with 3.0 assists each night.