FHSU WBB ranked eighth in initial Central Region rankings

FHSU Athletics
Ryan Prickett, Sports Information Director

INDIANAPOLIS – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team sits in eighth in the initial release of the 2020 NCAA Division II Central Region rankings, released Wednesday.

The Tigers (18-6, 9-6 MIAA) have an overall Division II record of 15-6 and an in-region record of 14-6. Their in-region winning percentage of .700 is tied for 10th-best in the region, but wins over two of the top teams in the region helped the Tigers move up to eighth in the eyes of the regional ranking committee. FHSU opened the year with a win over second-ranked Minnesota Duluth before adding a dominating home victory against No. 4 Emporia State last month.

Fort Hays State is one of five MIAA teams listed as the top 10 teams in the region, joined by top-ranked Central Missouri, fourth-ranked Emporia State, No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 10 Central Oklahoma. The Tigers will play one more regular season game against a regionally-ranked opponent next week when they travel to Edmond, Okla. to take on Central Oklahoma (Feb. 27). The NSIC has three teams ranked in the top six while the other two spots in the top 10 went to schools from the GAC.

The regional ranking committee will announce two more sets of polls during the regular season before the final announcement is made on Selection Sunday, when the NCAA announces the 64-team field for the 2020 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship at 9 p.m. on Sunday, March 8. The three conference tournament champions from the MIAA, GAC and NSIC will be joined by top five remaining teams in an eight-team regional tournament beginning Friday, March 13.