After a thrilling victory in the regional quarterfinals, the Fort Hays State women's basketball team takes on conference rival Central Missouri in the 2018 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship Central Region semifinals Saturday afternoon (March 10) in Sioux Falls, S.D. First tip between the Tigers and Jennies is set for 5 p.m. from the Elmen Center on the campus of Augustana University.

The sixth-seeded Tigers are now 26-6 on the year after knocking off Southwestern Oklahoma State, 78-75, while the No. 2 seed Jennies moved to 25-3 after taking care of business against Minnesota State-Moorhead, 66-49. This will be the second meeting between FHSU and UCM this season, with the Jennies taking round one in Warrensburg, 71-51 (1/4/18).

The Jennies hold a slim 14-12 lead in the all-time series with FHSU, but the Tigers have had plenty of success of late. Before losing this season, FHSU had won five straight against UCM. The Tigers are 10-9 against UCM under head coach Tony Hobson. Fort Hays State is 1-4 all-time against the Jennies on a neutral floor, including a 1-3 mark since Hobson took over.

Fort Hays State now has 26 wins this season and counting, third-most in program history. The Tigers are continuing to build upon the best four-year stretch the team has ever had. FHSU has 103 victories since 2014, second-most among MIAA schools (PSU, 104).

Kacey Kennett may be poised for another big game, as the sophomore has averaged 13.5 points in two career meetings with UCM. The Olathe, Kan. native is coming off a career day, scoring 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the win over SWOSU.

She was just one of five Tigers to reach double figures in the victory, a feat FHSU has accomplished three times this season with the other two coming way back in November.

Central Missouri, ranked No. 10 in the latest WBCA Coaches Poll, cruised to the MIAA regular season title, winning the conference by a 3-game margin. The Jennies promptly lost their first postseason game in the MIAA quarterfinals, losing to eventual tournament champion Lindenwood. UCM ended up with the No. 2 seed in the Central Region, easily dispatching of Minnesota State-Moorhead in the opening round, 66-49. The Jennies boast one of the top defenses in the MIAA, leading the league by allowing just 57.3 points per game. They also lead the league in field goal percentage, knocking down 45.8 percent of their shots.

UCM is the only team in the MIAA with three players averaging more than 11.5 points per game. The Jennies are led by MIAA Player of the Year Paige Redmond and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Kayonna Lee. Redmond scores 16.2 points per night while dishing out 4.0 assists each game and Lee leads the team in rebounds (8.3 rpg), steals (1.6 spg) and blocks (1.5 bpg).