The Truman women’s basketball team will travel nearly 1,000 miles roundtrip to play the 1,000th game in the program’s history on Wednesday night as they will take on the Tigers of Fort Hays State in a battle for fifth place in the MIAA standings.

The Tigers (15-7; 7-7 MIAA) won the battle of the boards and the game in the two teams’ first meeting in Kirksville back on Saturday, January 2. Fort Hays was a plus 10 in rebounds and won 69-63.

Crista Bechard scored 20 and Kate Lehman added 15 with four blocked shots for Fort Hays State while Truman got 14 from Breanna Daniels.

The Bulldogs started strong and then was able to hold off Southwest Baptist 77-68 on Saturday on the road.

Becka McHenry matched her career high with 24 points, 20 coming in the second half while Jennifer Conway scored 17 in the first half and finished with 20.

The Bearcats climbed back into the game by pounding the glass for nine offensive rebounds in the second half and had 16 for the game.

Since these two schools last met, Fort Hays has won just three times (Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri and Southwest Baptist) in nine games.

The Tigers are coming off a 20-point road loss to Washburn in their last game.

Fort Hays got as close as one late in the first half but watched the #11 Lady Blues score 43 second half points in the 75-55 victory.

 Kate Lehman scored 17 points with eight rebounds and four blocks for the Tigers.

The game marks the 1,000th game in Truman women’s basketball history.

The first game was 40-plus years ago against the University of Missouri.

Over the history, Truman has won 420 games and lost 579 in 999 games played.

Keys To The Game:

Both teams are equally matched in scoring, defense and shooting percentages however the Tigers are the conferences’ top rebounding team at 45 per game and first in offensive rebounds (16.2) and second in defensive rebounds (28.8).

Katelyn Edwards is fourth in the conference at 8.3 rebounds per game and Kate Lehman is 12th at 6.6 while also leading the league with three blocks per game.

Truman lost post Jennifer Conway, then the team’s leading scorer just four minutes into the game with an injury.

Courtesy Truman State University