Setting the Scene:
The Missouri Western women’s basketball squad will return home to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers on Saturday, December 11 in the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Griffons are on a two game losing streak after falling 67-59 on Wednesday night in the fieldhouse against the Missouri Southern Lions. The Griffons are 2-0 at home this season defeating the Rockhurst Hawks 74-52 and the Pittsburg State Gorillas 73-55. The Tigers are coming off a 71-42 loss at the hands of the 4th ranked Washburn Lady Blues on Wednesday in Topeka. The Tigers are 0-2 on the road this season and 5-0 at home. The Griffons enter the contest 3-3 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play while the Tigers are 5-2 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play.
Middle of the Pack:
The Griffons and the Lady Tigers are in the middle of the pack when it comes to scoring offense. The Griffons average just two more points then the Lady Tigers on the season. Western is 5th in the MIAA scoring 70.0 points per game while the Tigers are 6th averaging 68.0 per contest.
Griffons against Fort Hays in the Plett Era:
The Griffons are just 2-4 against the Lady Tigers since coach Plett took the helm in 2007. Western went 1-1 in the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 seasons against Fort Hays State but fell twice last season. The two victories against the Tigers came in St. Joseph by scores of 88-66 on January 19, 2008 and 62-55 on February 4, 2009. Western fell last season by a score of 66-52 on February 1, 2010. Western is 2-1 at home against the Lady Tigers under Plett.
Last victory for the Griffon in St. Joseph against FHSU:
The last time the Griffons defeated the Lady Tigers was in the 2008-2009 season. Western picked up just its third victory of that season by a score of 62-55 on February 4, 2009. The Griffons led 31-30 at the half and extended its lead in the second half for the victory. Jessica Koch led the way with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting while Tierra Ford recorded a double-double dumping 11 points and snaring 13 rebounds. The Tigers were led by Naomi Bancroft with 25 points on 9-of-25 shooting. Western shot 46.2-percent (24-52) from the floor while the Lady Tigers shot just 32.8-percent (21-64).
Griffon Success in the Fieldhouse:
So far this season the Griffons have had a ton of success in the fieldhouse. Western is 2-0 on the season and have outscored their opponents by an average of 20 points per game (73.5 to 53.5). Jessica Koch has scored 20.5 points per game while shooting 50.0-percent (11-22) from the field and 46.7-percent (7-15) from long range. Western has dished out 34 assists on its 52 field goals and forced 31 turnovers in two games. Brenna Saline is the only other Griffon scoring in double figures at home averaging 10 points. Rachel Luteyn is averaging 8.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per home contest.
Scouting the Griffons:
The Griffons have averaged 70.0 points and given up 63.3 points per game. Western has shot 40.3-percent (154-382) from the field and 30.3-percent (44-145) from long range. The Griffons have made 68-of-92 free throw attempts and have been out rebounded 42.8 to 40.3 per game. The Griffons have 85 assists on the season to go along with 89 turnovers and 48 steals. The Griffons are led by Jessica Koch averaging 18.5 points per game. Rachel Luteyn is averaging 10.2 points per contest. Lauren Nolke and Brenna Saline have chipped in 11.8 and 10.3 points per contest. Saline leads the squad at 8.0 rebounds per game while Koch is collecting 6.2 per contest. Koch has 24 assist and 16 steals while Luteyn has blocked 15 shots.
Series vs. the Lady Tigers:
This will mark the 33rd overall meeting with the Lady Tigers. FHSU leads the overall series 17-15 with two of the Griffons victories having to be vacated due to NCAA violations so they actually lead 17-13. The Griffons are 9-7 at home and 4-10 on the road. Western fell twice last season against the Tigers and have lost three of the last four and four of the last six. The Griffons are 1-0 at home and 1-0 on the road in the vacated games. The Griffons are 1-0 on a neutral floor against Fort Hays.
Coaches vs. Each Program:
Head coach Lynn Plett is just 2-4 all time against the Lady Tigers. Plett is 2-1 in St. Joseph and 0-3 in Hays. Tony Hobson is 3-1 against the Griffons. He is 1-1 in St. Joseph and 2-0 in Hays.
About the Opponent:
The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team is currently 5-2 overall and 2-1 in MIAA action. The Lady Tigers are coming off of a 71-42 defeat at the hands of the 4th ranked Washburn Lady Blues in Topeka, Kan. on Wednesday night. Fort Hays State won its first two MIAA contests of the season against Lincoln and Nebraska-Omaha by scores of 62-39 and 76-70. Both games were played in Hays, Kan. The Lady Tigers have also defeated Doane College, Tabor College and Nebraska-Kearney. The only other loss for Fort Hays came against Newman University by a score of 66-52 on November 23 in Wichita, Kan. The Lady Tigers are 0-2 on the road and 5-0 in Hays this season. Fort Hays State is led by Kimber Weiser scoring 11.6 points per contest. Rhye Pihl is averaging 9.7 points while Kara Champlin is dumping in 8.2 points and snaring a team high 5.3 rebounds per contest. Kaniesha Pettaway leads the team with 30 assists and 14 steals. The Lady Tigers are shooting 37.3-percent (166-445) from the field and 28.6-percent (54-189) from long range. They have been outrebounded on the season 39.6 to 38.4 per game but have 38 blocks to along with 89 steals. Fort Hays State has outscored its opponents by 43 in the second half and 18 in the first half.
Second Half Dominance:
The Missouri Western women are dominating their opponents in the second half outscoring them by a total of 33 points. The Griffons were outscored in the second half in two of its three losses. The Griffons outscored the Missouri Southern Lions 37-28 in the loss on Wednesday night in Joplin, Mo. Lauren Nolke dumped in 11 points in the second half. Against Emporia State, Western was outscored by 11 (46-35) but Jessica Koch dumped in 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. In their last victory the Griffons outscored the Gorillas 37-30 on the way to victory. Lauren Nolke dumped in 13 second half points on 5-of-8 shooting. The Griffons outscored the Rockhurst Hawks 44-31 in the last contest in the second half behind 11 second half points from Jessica Koch. Against Upper Iowa in the QU Subway Tipoff Classic the Griffons outscored the Peacocks 47-24 in the second half with 13 points coming from Rachel Luteyn in the second frame. The Griffons also outrebounded the Peacocks 30-18 with 10 coming on the offensive end of the floor. In the first game of the season against Northern Michigan the Griffons were outscored 38-30 in the second half with Koch dumping in 9 second half points.
Balance Throughout the Lineup:
The Griffons have four players scoring ten or more points per game. On the boards the Griffons have three players snaring five or more rebounds per contest with Saline leading the charge with 8.0 per game. Western has four players with 12 or more assists and one player with 24 steals. Four Griffons are shooting 40.0-percent or better from the field while five different Griffons are shooting 70-percent or better from the free throw line. Two Griffons have 14 or more offensive rebounds while 11 Griffons have snared at least one offensive rebounds this season.
Leading at the Half:
The Griffons have picked all three of its victories when leading at the half. Western has led by 10 against Upper Iowa, nine against Rockhurst and 11 against Pittsburg State. Western was up one in its last contest against the Lady Hornets.
Get that out of here:
Western has had six blocked shots in two of its last four games. The Griffons have 21 on the season and have had at least one blocked shot in all six games. Luteyn has 1152 blocks on the season while five other Griffons have recorded one.
Dishin out Dimes:
The Griffons have been very giving this season recording 85 assists on its 154 field goals. Four different Griffons have 12 or more assists with Jessica Koch dishing out 24. Lauren Nolke, Kallie Schoonover and Brenna Saline have 19, 12 and 12 respectively Nine different Griffons have at least two assists this season.
Stealing the Show:
Western has recorded 11 more steals than its opponents recording 8.0 per game. Jessica Koch has recorded 16 on the season while Lauren Nolke has seven steals. Five other Griffons have three or more.
Coming up Next:
The Griffons will return home on Sunday, December 19 to take on the 4th ranked Washburn Lady Blues a matinée. Tip time is set for 1:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse.
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