For the first time in school history, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team begins the season nationally ranked. Following their historic 30-4 season which included the MIAA regular season championship and advancing to the NCAA II regional finals, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will begin the 2015-16 season ranked No. 10 in the NCAA II coaches. Emporia State, who ended the Tigers postseason run with a win in the regional finals, begins the season ranked No. 1.
The Tigers, who were ranked eighth in the final poll last season, retrun three of five starters from last year’s team, which includes Beth Bohuslavsky, Chelsea Mason and Paige Lunsford. All three are seniors this year. However, the Tigers adjust to losing two of their best defensive players, first team All-American Kate Lehman and Keriann Shaw.
Bohuslavsky averaged 8.9 points and 3.8 assists per game last year and once again was one of the top ball security players in the nation, ranking sixth in assist/turnover ratio. Mason is the top returning scorer at 12.5 points per game, while Jill Faxon added 9.4 points and shot 41 percent beyond the 3-point line. Lunsford is the top returning rebounder, pulling down 4.1 per game last year. She added 4.9 points per game. Nikola Kacperska turned into a solid offensive threat for FHSU late in the year, finishing at 6.5 points per game, while Elle Stein added 3.1 points per game in the post.
The Lady Hornets won the MIAA Tournament last season and advanced to the semi-finals of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Fort Hays State is picked 10th by the coaches after winning the MIAA regular season and earning the chance to host the NCAA Division II Central Regional.
Rank Institution – First Place Votes
2 Lewis University (Ill.) – 2
3 California Baptist University – 3
4 Nova Southeastern University (Fla.)
5 California University of Pennsylvania (Pa.) – 6
6 Columbus State University (Ga.) – 1
7 University of Alaska – Anchorage
8 Michigan Technological University
9 West Texas A&M University
10 Fort Hays State University (Kan.)
11 Drury University (Mo.)
12 Limestone College (S.C.)
13 Union University (Tenn.)
14 Adelphi University (N.Y.)
15 Ashland University (Ohio)
16 Winona State University (Minn.)
17 Queens College (N.Y.)
18 Arkansas Tech University
19 Colorado Mesa University
20 University of Tampa (Fla.)
21 West Liberty University (W.Va.)
22 Anderson University (S.C.)
23 Lubbock Christian University (Texas)
24 Wayne State College (Neb.)
25 West Chester University of Pennsylvania