Fort Hays State Women's Basketball (18-7, 13-4 MIAA)
vs. Lincoln (5-17, 3-12 MIAA)
Thursday, February 9, 2023 • 5:30 p.m.
Hays, Kansas • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Game Sponsor: Domino's Pizza
National Anthem: Plainville Band/Drumline
Promotions: Student Night - FHSU students in attendance have the chance to win some great prizes!
Rally Towel Giveaway - First 500 fans will receive a gold rally towel provided by Fort Hays State University
FHSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation - All FHSU faculty and staff are eligible for two free GA tickets to Thursday's games (must pick up in advance in the Athletics office - Cunningham Hall 138 - before 4:30 p.m. on gameday)
Halftime: FHSU cheer team performance
 
The Fort Hays State women's basketball team opens its final weekend homestand of the 2023 season Thursday evening (Feb. 9) when the Tigers host Lincoln beginning at 5:30 p.m.
 
With five games remaining in the regular season, the Tigers (18-7, 31-4 MIAA) enter the weekend tied for fourth in the MIAA standings. The top six teams in the league are separated by just two games, with four of FHSU's final five games against one of those other top teams.
 
But before FHSU can turn its attention to those matchups, the Tigers must first battle Lincoln (5-17, 3-12). The Blue Tigers are currently one-half game outside of the top 10 in the league standings and a trip to Kansas City, Mo. for the 2023 MIAA Championship Tournament, presented by Southern Bank.
 
Fort Hays State put on a 3-point shooting clinic before halftime in their last matchup with the Blue Tigers, knocking down 11 long-range shots before the break en route to an 85-68 road win over Lincoln last month (1/2/23). The Tigers and Blue Tigers started the game on fire, knocking down eight consecutive shots, including six from behind the 3-point line. The Tigers led by as many as 25 early in the fourth quarter. Megan Earney led all scorers with 15 points thanks to 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arc.
 
The win extended FHSU's winning streak to 15 games against the Blue Tigers. FHSU is 18-1 all-time against Lincoln, including a 9-1 record in Hays.
 
Five different Tigers average more than nine points per game when playing Lincoln, including Katie Wagner (12.3 ppg in 4 games), Olivia Hollenbeck (11.0 ppg in 4 games), Megan Earney (11.0 ppg in 4 games), Emma Ruddle (9.5 ppg in 4 games) and Jessie Sallach (9.2 ppg in 5 games).
 
Fort Hays State ranks third in the country with just 11.9 turnovers per game. Sydney Golladay's 103 assists on the year are second-most in the MIAA and 28th-most nationally.
 
The Tigers knocked down nearly 40 percent of their attempts from behind the arc in last weekend's road trip to Newman and Central Oklahoma (19-of-49).
 
The Blue Tigers are 1-8 away from home, with the lone win coming in the state of Kansas at Emporia State last month (85-81, 1/5/23). Leading scorer Le'Yanna McGinnis has not played in the last two games after logging just six minutes against Central Missouri two weeks ago (1/28/23). Lincoln ranks 293 out of 294 teams in Division II with a field goal percentage defense of 46.3 percent. The Blue Tiger defense ranks seventh in the league with 15.6 turnovers forced per game.