Ft. Hays Women’s Basketball Team is Headed to the NCAA Tournament

The Ft. Hays Women’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament! This is a huge accomplishment for the team and the school. Be sure to follow their journey as they take on some of the best teams in the country.

Ft. Hays Women’s Basketball team is Headed to the NCAA Tournament

The Ft. Hays State University women’s basketball team has qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament and will take on Lubbock Christian in the first round on Friday, March 15 at 9:00 a.m. in Edmond, Oklahoma.

This is the first time in program history that the Tigers have qualified for the NCAA tournament and they are one of four teams from the Midwest Region to make the field of 64.

The Tigers finished the regular season with a 23-6 record and earned the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region after winning the MIAA Tournament Championship

What this Means for the Team

The Ft. Hays women’s Basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. This is a huge accomplishment for the team and the school, and it is something that the whole community can be proud of.

The team’s Head Coach Jerry Krause, is thrilled about the opportunity to compete at the national level. “This is a dream come true for our program,” he said. “Our goal has always been to make it to the NCAA tournament and we are finally going to get that chance.”

The players on the team are also excited about the opportunity to compete on a national stage. “We are so excited to be going to the NCAA tournament ” said senior guard Taylor Riggs. “It has been our goal since we started playing basketball and we can’t wait to see what we can do.”

This is a momentous occasion for Ft. Hays State University and it will be exciting to see how far the team can go in the tournament.

How They Got Here

The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. The tigers finished the season with a 27-5 record and are the number four seed in the Midwest Region. They will take on thirteen seed Bucknell in the first round on Friday.

The tigers had an impressive run in the MIAA conference tournament defeating one seed Nebraska Kearney, seventy-five to sixty-four, in the Championship game This was a remarkable feat, as Kearney had beaten Fort Hays twice during the regular season

The key to the tigers success has been their balanced scoring attack. Four players average double figures in points per game led by senior forward Ashley Carr with fourteen point per game. The tigers also rebound well, averaging over forty per game.

The tigers will look to continue their success in the NCAA Tournament and make some noise in the Midwest Region.

What the Fans are Saying

The fans are going wild as the Ft. Hays women’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The team has been playing amazing basketball all season and the fans are thrilled to see them get the chance to compete on a national stage.

“We’re so proud of our team and we can’t wait to see them play in the tournament,” said one fan. “They’ve worked so hard all season and they deserve this opportunity.”

“I’m just so excited for them,” said another fan. “They’ve been playing great basketball and I know they’re going to do great things in the tournament.”

The team is set to take on their first opponent in the first round of the tournament on Friday, March 16th. The fans are already planning on being there to support their team and cheer them on to victory.

What’s Next for the Team

After their impressive run in the conference tournament the team has their sights set on the NCAA tournament The team has made it to the tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history and are looking to make some noise this year.

The team will find out their opponent and game time on Sunday afternoon when the NCAA selection show airs at 3:00 pm CT on ESPN. The team is hoping to avoid a repeat of last year when they were sent to Iowa City to take on the top-seeded Hawkeyes in the first round.

How You Can Show Your Support

The Ft. Hays women’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history! Here’s how you can show your support for the team:

-Share your excitement on social media using the hashtag #HaysHoops
-Attend a watch party at a local bar or restaurant
-Wear Ft. Hays gear to work or school
-Make a sign to show your support at the games
-Listen to or watch the games online or on TV

Player Profiles

profile Each player on the Ft. Hays women’s basketball team

With the program’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament on the horizon, let’s take a look at each player that will be suiting up for the Tigers.

Ft. Hays is led by it’s do-it-all star, senior guard Katie Buchanan. Averaging 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game Buchanan is the motor that makes this team go. She was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, and is a leading candidate for MIAA Player of the Year honors. Buchanan will be counted on to carry this team in the tournament.

Junior center Clara Edwards provides a big boost in the paint for Ft. Hays. Standing 6’5″, Edwards is a physical force in the post and provides great rim protection, averaging two blocks per game. On offense, she is a solid option in the post, averaging 10 points and six rebounds per game

Coach Profile

Patricia Harrison is in her 10th season as the head coach of the Ft. Hays women’s basketball team She has led the team to nine NCAA tournament appearances, including two trips to the Sweet Sixteen

Harrison played collegiate basketball at the University of Kansas where she was a three-time All-American. She began her coaching career as an assistant at Kansas before taking over as Head Coach at Ft. Hays in 2009.

Under Harrison’s leadership, the Ft. Hays team has won six conference championships and made nine postseason appearances. In 2018, the team had a perfect 31-0 record, becoming the first team in NCAA Division II history to finish a season undefeated.

10 Reasons Why We Love This Team

The Ft. Hays women’s Basketball team is one of the most exciting teams in the NCAA. Here are 10 reasons why we think they’re great:
1. They have an unstoppable offense.
2. Their defense is suffocating.
3. Their rebounding is incredible.
4. They have a deep bench.
5. They play with heart and determination.
6. They’re coached by an all-time great in Lee Tuttleman.
7. Their home court the Tiger Dome, is one of the best places to watch a game in the country.
8. The fans are some of the most passionate and supportive in all of college basketball
9. The team has a rich history and tradition of success dating back to their days in Division II.
10. They are, quite simply, a lot of fun to watch!

A Look Back at Their Season

The Ft. Hays State University women’s Basketball Team has had an incredible season, with a 27-3 record overall and a 20-2 record in conference play They have been ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation, and their only losses have been to two teams that are also headed to the NCAA Tournament Their Head coach Tony Hobbs, was named Coach of the Year for both the conference and the region.

The team is led by senior guard Katie Nimmo, who was named Player of the Year for the conference and region. She is joined by fellow senior guard Taylor Rolfs and junior forward Macy Doebele in being named to the All-Conference first team. Junior center Erika Lane was named to the second team, and senior forward Courtney Buytaert was named honorable mention.

The team will be heading to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009, and they will be looking to make a run at the National Championship