Paige Lunsford joins the Lady Cougar staff fresh off a successful playing career at nearby Fort Hays State University.   Playing under the tutelage of former Cougar and Barton Hall of Fame Coach Tony Hobson, Lunsford helped the Lady Tigers to a four-year school record 98 wins and consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division II Tournament.

A native of Hays, Kansas, Lunsford received her bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Performance while receiving honors on- and off the court.   Landing on the MIAA Conference Academic Honor Roll and receiving an MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award, Lunsford earned All-MIAA honorable mention honors her senior season being named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team contributing to the Lady Tigers leading the nation in turnover margin and fewest turnovers per game.

Lunsford’s senior season ended in the national tournament with twenty-five wins, second most in the program’s NCAA Division history after a record setting thirty wins her junior year.   

A versatile 5’11” guard, Lunsford was in the starting lineup sixty-five straight games spanning her final two seasons appearing in all but nine games throughout her Fort Hays career.

Graduating from Hays High School in 2012, Lunsford was a four-time all-league performer with an honorable mention all-state honor her junior season.   Lunsford concluded her high school career grabbing Kansas Class 5A All-State First Team honors leading her school to a league championship earning Player of the Year honors in the Western Athletic Conference.