Fort Hays State Women's Basketball (13-6, 8-3 MIAA)
at Washburn (7-8, 3-6 MIAA)
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 • 5:30 p.m.
Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena
 
Fort Hays State women's basketball hits the road to take on in-state rival Washburn Wednesday evening (Jan. 18) in Topeka. First tip from Lee Arena is slated for 5:30 p.m.
 
The Tigers enter the contest at 13-6 overall and 8-3 in the MIAA, tied for fourth in the MIAA standings, while the Ichabods rank ninth in the league at 7-8 on the year and 3-6 in conference play.
                                
Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network, presented by Tiger Media Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network.
 
Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com.
 
Tiger Notables
- The Tigers and Ichabods did not face off at all during 2022. FHSU last battled Washburn in the first conference contest of the 2021-22 season in December 2021.
- Katie Wagner (14.0 ppg), Megan Earney (11.0 ppg) and Olivia Hollenbeck (10.0 ppg) all average in double figures when playing the Ichabods.
- The Tigers are in pursuit of their 12th-consecutive 20-win season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II.
- Fort Hays State has won 223 games since the start of the 2014-15 season, by far the most of any MIAA team (UCM - 195 wins).
- The Tigers are 212-115 (.648) in conference games since joining the MIAA in 2006.
- The Tigers have a chance to win the league for a third-consecutive year, a feat not accomplished in more than 15 years (Washburn 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06).
 
Last Time Out
- A pull-up jumper from the free throw rattled in and out just before the final buzzer sounded on Saturday, giving No. 19 Nebraska-Kearney a 53-52 win over the Tigers in Hays.
- FHSU trailed by as many as 13 before rallying to take a four-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
- The Tigers scored a season-low seven points in the first quarter before Clary Donica scored 10 points in the second quarter to help FHSU keep things close
- Donica finished the game with a team-high 12 points, becoming the eighth different Tiger to lead the team in scoring this season
 
Series History with Washburn
- Washburn leads the all-time series, 47-38, including a 25-18 advantage in Lee Arena.
- Fort Hays State is 13-12 against the Ichabods during the Hobson era, with Washburn leading 7-4 in Topeka.
- The Tigers have won six in a row over the Ichabods, tied for the longest FHSU winning streak in series history (1976-79).
- A win Wednesday would give the Tigers three-consecutive road wins over the Ichabods, tied for the longest streak in series history and the first time since 1981-82.
- FHSU never trailed in a 72-50 road win over the Ichabods last season (12/1/21). The 22-point win was FHSU's first double-digit road win over the Ichabods in 31 years (11/27/90) and is the largest-such victory since the 1974-75 season.
 
On This Day
- The Tigers are 8-6 in recorded history on January 18.
- Most recently, Fort Hays State defeated Washburn at home in 2020, 74-61.
 
The Coach
- Tony Hobson enters his 15th season at Fort Hays State and his 31st season as a head coach at the collegiate level in 2022-23.
- He is 325-115 as a Tiger and 738-220 all-time.
- Hobson ranks third all-time amongst MIAA head coaches with 325 wins at FHSU.
- He ranks in the top 30 in win percentage amongst all active NCAA head coaches and in the top 10 in Division II.
- Hobson earned the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Women's Four-Year College Coach of the Year award last season, his 19th career coach of the year award.
- He has coached four All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, two conference players of the year and 48 All-MIAA performers over the last 14 seasons.
 
Scouting the Ichabods
- Washburn ranks third in the MIAA and 26th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 57.2 points per game.
- The Ichabods rank last in the conference and 271st out of 294 DII teams with a free-throw percentage of 61.4 percent.
- Washburn is 5-5 at home this season, including a 1-3 mark in home conference games.
- Aubree Dewey played more than 32 minutes per game, fourth-most in the MIAA. Her 3.7 assists per game are eighth-most in the league.
- Natalia Figueroa knocks down 1.87 3-pointers per night, eighth-most in the conference.
 
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will look to move to 4-0 when playing on Sundays this season when they travel to Emporia, Kan. to take on the Hornets on January 22, with the first tip slated for 1:30 p.m. from White Auditorium.