THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Jan. 24, 5:30 p.m. at
#3 Fort Hays State (16-1, 7-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2:00 p.m. at
Nebraska Kearney (11-6, 4-4 MIAA)
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Women's Basketball (9-7, 4-3 MIAA) faces its toughest test of the season as it travels to No. 3 Fort Hays State on Thursday before visiting Nebraska Kearney on Saturday.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- After winning its first 15 games, Fort Hays State lost its first game of the season on Jan. 16 to Emporia State, a team that the Griffons beat 68-66.
- Both Jill Rumpf and Cera Ledbetter returned from injury in the team's last game and should continue to transition back into the Griffons' rotation. Rumpf was sidelined for eight games while Ledbetter missed five.
- The last time the Griffons squared off against Nebraska Kearney was in last season's MIAA Championship Tournament. The Griffons upset the fifth-seeded Lopers 60-57, becoming the first ever 12-seed to win a game in the tournament's history.
- A win this week would give the Griffons their fifth conference win, which would surpass their regular season total from all of last season.
- The Griffons are in search of their first victory over a ranked opponent since the 2016-17 season when they went 3-1 against teams ranked in the top-25.
MISSOURI WESTERN NOTES
- Katrina Roenfeldt is fourth in the MIAA in scoring at 15.8 points per game.
- Melia Richardson leads all MIAA players with a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- The Griffons are 1-3 in road contests this season.
- Missouri Western's defense is averaging nine steals per game.
SCOUTING FORT HAYS STATE
- The Tigers are winning games by an average of 26 points per game, which is fourth in all of NCAA Div. II.
- The Fort Hays State defense allows only 54 points and forces 20 turnovers per game.
- Head Coach Tony Hobson has led the Tigers to the NCAA National Tournament in three of the past four seasons.
- Tatyana Legette is the third best rebounder in the MIAA at eight boards per game.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA KEARNEY
- The Lopers are 9-1 at home this season.
- Kelsey Sanger leads the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game.
- Nebraska Kearney holds it opponents to just 37 percent shooting.
- The Lopers force 18.5 turnovers per game, second in the MIAA.
