KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the conference this year according to the 2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday (Oct. 20) by the league office. It is the fourth-straight year the team has been picked to finish in the top-four in the league. The poll is comprised of votes from all 14 head coaches in the league, who are not allowed to list their own institution on their ballot.

The Tigers earned 127 points in the poll to finish fourth. The four Kansas universities were ranked one through four in the poll, with Emporia State, winners of four-straight conference tournament titles, leading the way with 12 first-place votes and 168 total points. Defending NCAA Division II Central Region champion Pittsburg State was listed atop the final two ballots, earning 156 points to come in second. The third- through fifth-ranked teams are separated by just eight points, with Washburn earning five more points than the Tigers and the Griffons of Missouri Western just behind FHSU at 124 points.

Entering his ninth season at the helm, head coach Tony Hobson returns seven players from a year ago, including two starters and two All-MIAA honorees. Jill Faxon, a third team All-MIAA honoree last season, returns for her senior season after averaging over 12 points and nearly six rebounds per game. Fellow senior Nikola Kacperska averaged 8.3 points and nearly two assists per game last year, garnering honorable mention All-MIAA accolades. Taylor Chandler, Tatyana Legette and Carly Heim all return valuable experience after playing in at least 29 contests a year ago. The seven returners are joined by eight newcomers, including seven freshmen and one Division I transfer.

The Tigers reached the NCAA Central Region tournament for the second-straight time last season, earning a trip to the NCAA tournament in consecutive years for the first time in program history. The Tigers have won 18 conference games in each of the last two seasons, finishing in the top-two in the final standings each year.

The Black and Gold will get their first taste of game action in less than two weeks when they travel to Lawrence, Kan. for an exhibition contest against Kansas on Sunday, October 30. The Tigers open up the regular season on Friday, November 11 against Upper Iowa in St. Joseph, Mo.

2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Emporia State (12)	168
2. Pittsburg State (2)	156
3. Washburn	132
4. Fort Hays State	127
5. Missouri Western	124
6. Central Oklahoma	96
7. Nebraska-Kearney	95
8. Central Missouri	89
9. Missouri Southern	83
10. Southwest Baptist	75
11. Northeastern State	43
12. Lindenwood	40
13. Northwest Missouri	31
14. Lincoln	15