The third-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens the final week of the regular season Thursday (Feb. 28) when the Tigers look to complete a season sweep of Missouri Southern. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m. inside historic Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Promotions
Game Sponsor: Redeem Designs
National Anthem: FHSU Pep Band
Student Section Theme: Throwback Thursday
- Retro Night t-shirt giveaway (First 250 fans receive throwback t-shirt)
- Throwback Concession Pricing ($1 Hot Dogs, Popcorn, and Small Drinks)
- Fans are encouraged to wear retro Tiger gear
- Youth Cheer Camp Performance

Having already locked up the regular season MIAA title, the Tigers (25-1, 16-1 MIAA) return home to defend the championship in their final two regular season contests. The Lions (13-14, 5-12 MIAA) are in a fight just to keep playing past this weekend, as MSSU currently sits in 11th place in the MIAA standings, one win behind the coveted 10th spot. Under the new format for the MIAA Championship tournament, the top 10 teams at the conclusion of the season will secure a trip to Kansas City.

The Tigers and Lions met quite recently, with Fort Hays State pulling out a 15-point road win in Joplin three weeks ago (2/9/19).

A win Thursday would give the Tigers eight wins in a month for the first time since January 2016.

The Tigers have now reached 25 wins five times in program history, four of which have come in the last five years. 

Fort Hays State is 32-18 all-time against Missouri Southern, including wins in 11 of the last 13 matchups. The Tigers have dominated at home, winning 21 of 25 contests in Hays and six straight. Fort Hays State is 13-6 overall and 8-1 at home against MSSU under Hobson.

Missouri Southern enters the final week of the regular season needing at least one victory to earn a trip to Kansas City. The Lions are one win behind Southwest Baptist, over whom MSSU holds the tiebreaker. Missouri Southern needs one more win than SBU, who has just one game remaining, to move into 10th. The Lions rank 11th in the league with a scoring average of 66.0 points while ranking 12th defensively with 68.7 points allowed per game. They rank second in the MIAA in rebounding, grabbing 39.9 boards each contest. Chelsey Henry leads the team and ranks fourth in the MIAA with an average of 16.6 points per night.