Complete game notes

Washburn returns home for a date with the Lions on Wednesday . . . 
The Washburn Lady Blues (14-3, 6-2 MIAA) will face Missouri Southern (13-4, 4-4 MIAA) in the first of two straight home games in Lee Arena as they play host to the Lions on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Washburn topped Pittsburg State 85-61 and the Lions fell at Fort Hays State last time out on Saturday 70-59. Washburn enters the game in a first place tie with Northwest Missouri in the MIAA standings. Following the game with the Lions, Washburn will take on Missouri Western on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. before travelling to Joplin, Mo., to take on Missouri Southern for the second time in a week. The Lady Blues will then finish out the regular season with five of seven games at home beginning with Pittsburg State on Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Quick Facts
Matchup: Washburn (14-3, 6-2 MIAA) vs Missouri Southern (13-4, 4-4 MIAA)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 30 • Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Topeka, Kan. - Lee Arena (4,197)
Radio: KTPK 106.9 FM / Topeka with play by play with Mark Elliott and Bruce Steinbrock
Online Audio: Through wusports.com (free)
Online Video: Through themiaa.tv ($5.50)
Live Stats: Through livestats.internetconsult.com/washburn/wbball/
Coaches: Washburn head coach Ron McHenry is 202-40 (.834) in his eighth season - McHenry is 11-3 against Missouri Southern.
Missouri Southern head coach Maryann Mitts has compiled a 111-75 (.600) record in her seventh season at MSSU. She is 194-131 in her 12 years overall. Mitts is 3-19 vs WU as a head coach going 2-10 at MSSU and 1-9 at Rockhurst.
Rankings: Washburn is ranked No. 8 in the WBCA/USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
Series Record: WU leads the all-time series 37-23
Streaks: WU has won the last five in the series
Last Meeting: WU 81-50, on Feb. 1, 2007 in Topeka
Last WU win: same
Last MSSU win: 53-50 on Jan. 22 in Joplin
Worth noting: The Lady Blues have won the last 11 meetings in Topeka. Washburn's last loss in Lee Arena to the Lions was on Feb. 4, 1995, 66-63

Lady Blues on radio . . .
The Lady Blues game with Missouri Southern will be broadcast live on KTPK 106.9 FM with Mark Elliott calling the action and Bruce Steinbrock providing color commentary. The games will also be streamed live online by clicking the live audio button under Lady Blues Basketball on the WU web site at www.wusports.com.

The coaches . . .
Washburn head coach Ron McHenry has posted a 202-40 (.835) record overall and 104-28 (.788) record in the MIAA with four MIAA regular season championships from 2003-06 and the 2005 NCAA National Championship. McHenry has the highest winning percentage (.835) in MIAA history of coaches who have at least 200 wins.
He was named the Lady Blues head coach prior to the 2000-01 season. He is second among active women's NCAA Division II Coaches in winning percentage. McHenry was named the MIAA's Coach of the Year in 2005 and in 2006 and the Division II Bulletin National Coach of the Year in 2005. (complete bio on page 2 of notes.)
Missouri Southern head coach Maryann Mitts has compiled a 111-75 (.600) record in her seventh season with the Lions. She holds a 194-131 (.599) mark now in her 12th year as a collegiate head coach. Mitts is 3-19 overall against Washburn going 2-10 at Missouri Southern and 1-9 while the coach at her alma mater Rockhurst.

Last time out for the Lady Blues . . .
Jan. 26, 2008 - #8 Washburn 85, Pittsburg State 61 • PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The No. 8 Washburn knocked off Pittsburg State in John Lance Arena 85-61 improving to 14-3 and 6-2 in the MIAA. With the win, Washburn remains in a first-place tie in the MIAA standings with Northwest Missouri at 6-2 in league play. It was the 14th straight win over the Gorillas for the Lady Blues and the seventh straight win in Pittsburg. Washburn will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 30th in Lee Arena against Missouri Southern.
The Lady Blues opened the game 1 of 7 from the field, but closed the half hitting 13 of 27 building a 41-25 lead after the first 20 minutes.
The Lady Blues' were led in the half by Janice Bright who scored 13 points in the half hitting 5 of 5 field goal attempts including all three 3-point attempts. She also added five rebounds and two assists. Bright missed the final 7:41 of the Southwest Baptist game after suffering a fall going up for a rebound.
Karla Tailele scored eight off the bench hitting 2 of 3 3-pointers.
With Washburn holding an 11-point lead 1:29 into the second half, the Lady Blues turned on a 27 to 8 run over a ten-minute span in the second half turning a 41-30 game at the 18:31 mark of the second half into a 68-38 lead with 8:41 to go in the game.
Washburn would go on to push the lead to as many as 31 in the second half cruising to the 24-point win.
Bright finished with a career-high 22 topping her previous high of 20 in the season opener against Southwestern (Kan.) in the season opener. Bright also had a game-high eight rebounds finishing 8 of 10 from the field and 4 of 5 from 3-point land.
Tailele tied her career-high of 13 hitting 5 of six shots from the field while connecting on 3 of 4 3-pointers.
Amanda Holmes finished with 12 points dialing up 7 of 9 free throws.
Pitt State's Liz Witte led the Gorillas with 17 points.
Washburn finished 29 of 63 from the field hitting 46 percent. The Lady Blues were 12 of 28 from 3-point range and dropped in 15 of 21 free throw attempts.
The Gorillas shot an opponent season-high 24 of 51 from the field (.471). The Gorillas also hit 10 of 22 3-point attempts and were 3 of 6 from the free throw line.
Washburn outrebounded the Gorillas 37 to 26 including a 14 to 4 advantage on the offensive glass creating a 15 to 2 advantage in second chance points.

Notes from the Pittsburg State game . . .
Washburn now leads the all-time series with the Gorillas 42-24 … Washburn has won the last 14 in the series overall … the 85 points was a season-high … Washburn has won the last seven games in Pittsburg … Janice Bright has led the Lady Blues in rebounding the last two game … the Lady Blues Brette Ulsaker missed the game with a stress fracture in her foot … 12 of the 13 Lady Blues in uniform scored at least one point … the Lady Blues had a season-low four turnovers.

Washburn/Missouri Southern series notes . . .
Saturday's meeting will be the 61st in the series. Washburn is 37-23 all-time against the Lions. Washburn has won the last five meetings, 11 of 13 and 15 of the last 18 meetings. All three losses have come in Joplin. Washburn has won 11 straight in Topeka.

Last Meeting Between Washburn and Missouri Southern . . .
(Feb. 1, 2007) TOPEKA, Kan. – The No. 5 ranked Washburn Lady Blues topped Missouri Southern for the second time in eight days as they topped the Lions 80-51 in Lee Arena. With the win, Washburn improves to 18-2 and 9-2 in the MIAA while Missouri Southern falls to 10-9 and 3-8 in conference dropping their seventh straight game.
Washburn opened the game on a 17-2 run and never looked back as they hit 7 of 14 first half 3-pointers pushing their lead to as many as 20 points in the first half. Brooke Ubelaker and Cindy Keeley were each 3 of 4 from behind the arch in the opening period scoring 11 points apiece as Washburn took a 44 to 20 lead into the break.
In the second half, stretched their lead to 26 early, but had their margin cut to 12 and the Lions would go on a 15-2 run cutting the lead to 51-39, but the Lady Blues returned with a 15-5 run of their own returning the lead to 23 points leading to the 81-50 win.
Keeley tied a career-high with 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting and a 5 of 7 mark from behind the 3-point line. She led four Lady Blues in double figures with Corkey Stiger scoring 18 off the bench. Ubelaker finished with 16 including her 199th 3-pointer of her career. Jessica Aebi scored 11 points.
Jessica Mainz had an all-around game with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and five steals.
Dana-Mae Robbs led the Lions with nine points.
The Lady Blues were 26 of 57 from the field (.456) while holding the Lions to 19 of 43 from the field (.442). Washburn, finished 18 of 20  from the free throw line including a 15 of 16 mark in the first half. The Lions were 8 of 13 from the charity stripe.
With the win, Washburn improves their series lead over the Lions to 37-23, including their 11th straight win over the Lions in Topeka.
 
About Missouri Southern . . .
Missouri Southern enters the game with an overall record of 13-4, 4-4 in the MIAA. MSSU started the season 9-0 and were ranked as high as No. 16 in the country.
The Lions are led in scoring this season by Fatai Hala 'Api 'Api, who averages 12.5 points per game.
Tynesha Pierce is the second leading scorer for the Lions at 11.4 points per game. Her 6.5 rebounds per game leads the team.
India Wood leads the team in assists per game with 4.1 per game. As a team, the Lions rank ninth in the MIAA in scoring at 67.2 points per game but are third in the MIAA in the scoring margin category at +11.6. Missouri Southern leads the MIAA in field-goal percentage defense at 33.7 percent, in 3-point FG percentage defense at 28 percent and also in blocked shots with 73, averaging 4.29 per game.

Last time out for the Lions . . .
(Jan. 26, 2008) -- HAYS, Kan. -- Sophomore G Naomi Bancroft made six three-pointers and scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Fort Hays State Lady Tigers to a 70-59 win over the Missouri Southern Lions Saturday afternoon at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The loss snaps the a four-game winning streak for the Lions (13-4, 4-4 MIAA) and puts them at 4-4 in the MIAA and 13-4 overall. FHSU improves to 8-9 and 2-6 in conference play.
The Lady Tigers (8-9, 2-6 MIAA) never trailed in the first half, but the Lions managed to stay close and took their first lead of the game on a three-pointer by senior G Ela Zawadka to go up, 39-37, with 16:08 remaining in the game.
The Lions' biggest lead of the day was three after senior F Tynesha Pierce snapped a 39-39 tie with a layup and then converted a free throw to put the Lions ahead 42-39.
Senior G Sheena Kuntzsch then tied the score for FHSU with a trey, but junior F Danielle DeVader immediately answered with a jumper that made it 44-42 Lions with 12:01 left.
But the Lady Tigers gained the lead for good with a 12-2 run that was sparked by eight points from Bancroft and put FHSU up, 54-46, with 8:13 remaining.
FHSU put the game away with a game-ending 13-2 run to pull away for the victory.
Senior C Brianna Willhite also reached double-figures for the Lady Tigers with 13 points, while sophomore G Kayla Klug scored 12. Senior G Meshia Mason pulled down a game-high 11 boards for FHSU.
Pierce led the Lions with 18 points and eight rebounds and DeVader added 13. Junior G India Wood scored 11 and dished out four assists.

Lady Blues player Notes . . .
#3 – Brette Ulsaker – G – Out with a stress fracture in her foot.
#4 – Amanda Holmes – F – Attempted 600th field goal of career at Pitt State (29th all-time) … averaging 9.4 ppg in away and neutral site games and 10.9 ppg in games in Lee Arena.
#11 – Renata Germano – C – Moved into 27th on the all-time block chart with her 19th at SBU.
#13 – Jessica Mainz – G – Eight field goal attempts at PSU was a new career high … leads team with 20 made free throws in the last five minutes of the game (26 attempts).
#14 – Alyssa Mullen – F – Career high four field goal attempts at Pitt State.
#20 – Hadleigh Meek – G – Scored four points in 17 minutes of play in last two games.
#21 – Corkey Stiger – G – 46 3-pointers made this season is one shy of total from all of last season … 85 of 186 (.457) in games won this season … at least one block in each of the last five games.
#23 – Jacki Tipping – G – Career high 4 points against Truman hitting both field goal attempts.
#24 – Karla Tailele – G – 3 3-pointers against Pitt State tied a season/career high for the fifth time.
#30 – Kalee Silovsky – F – Hit all 3 free throw attempts at Pitt State (7 of 10 for the season).
#32 – Janice Bright – G – Led the team with career-high tying 8 rebounds at PSU … averaging 11.7 ppg in home games this season.
#33 – Hope Gregory – G – Made first start since Dec. 8 at PSU scoring 4 points, with 4 rbs, 1 steal.
#44 – Emily Gibson – F – Hit 1 of 2 free throw attempts at Pitt State.
#50 – Regiane Araujo – C – Averaging 7.5 ppg in MIAA play hitting 25 of 46 from the field (.543).

Lady Blues in Lee Arena . . .
In their 24th season in Lee Arena, the Lady Blues are 295-55 (.841) overall at home. The Lady Blues have won their last 17 home games.
The longest winning streak was 44 games from Dec. 1, 1990 to March 20, 1993.
The Lady Blues have won 35 straight regular season non-conference games in Lee Arena. The last defeat by a non-conference team in the regular season was to Missouri-St. Louis in a 59-51 setback on Dec. 30, 2000.
Washburn is 103-10 (.910) in home games under Ron McHenry.

Lady Blues history . . .
Washburn is 685-323 (.680 in 1,008 games) in its 38th season of intercollegiate action.

WU in the national poll . . .
The Washburn Lady Blues remained No. 8 in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll for the second straight week which was released Jan. 22. Washburn was ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll which was released on Oct. 31. The Lady Blues were ranked No. 8 in the final poll of the 2007-08 season after finishing with a 29-4 overall record. The poll marks the 96th consecutive week the Lady Blues have been ranked.

Lady Blues Tip Ins . . .
• Corkey Stiger moved into seventh all-time at Washburn in 3-pointers with 93. She needs 16 more to move into sixth place all-time.
• Stiger's 283 3-point attempts is sixth all-time.
• Amanda Holmes is 14th all-time with 216 free throws made and 13th in free throw attempts with 324.
• Holmes is 13th all-time in rebounds at Washburn with 522.
• Holmes' 92 career blocked shots is fourth all-time at Washburn needing 10 to move into sole possession of third place.
• The Lady Blues have not allowed an opponent to shoot above 50 percent in a game in a streak of 88 contests - Angelo State was the last opponent to hit 50 percent of their shots in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Springfield when they connected on 26 of 52 shots on March 12, 2005.  Under McHenry, the Lady Blues are 198-36 when their opponent shoots under 50 percent overall.
• The Lady Blues have held their opponents under 100 points in 268 consecutive games.
• Washburn is averaging 67.2 ppg in MIAA play.
• The Washburn bench is outscoring their opponents this season 395 to 253.
• Washburn is averaging 72.8 ppg in games won and 51.0 in games lost.
• The Lady Blues are allowing 53.5 ppg in games won and giving up 60.7 in games lost this season.
• In games Washburn has won this season, they have had three Lady Blues average in double figures (Stiger, 16.6 ppg; Holmes, 11.0; and Bright, 10.9). In games they have lost, only Stiger (16.3) is averaging in double figures and only one other Lady Blue has averaged at least 9.0 ppg (Bright).
• Opponents have outscored the Lady Blues from the free throw line 47 to 28 in the three losses.
• Washburn is shooting 32 percent (56 of 175) in games they have lost compared to 43 percent (356 of 828) in games they have won.

Under Lady Blues head coach Ron McHenry . . .
• The Lady Blues are 172-8 when outshooting their opponent.
• Washburn is 65-2 when holding their opponents under 50 points or less.
• Washburn is 62-0 when they score at least 81 points and 123-2 when they score at least 71 points.
• Washburn is 193-9 when leading with 5 minutes remaining in the game.
• Washburn is 59-2 when shooting 50 percent or better.
• Washburn is 51-19 all-time in the month of January.
• Washburn is 29-19 against ranked teams and 27-11 when both teams are ranked in the WBCA National Poll.

Up Next . . .
Following the game with the Lions, Washburn will take on Missouri Western in Lee Arena at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 before a rematch with Missouri Southern on Feb. 6 in Joplin. Washburn will then finish the MIAA slate with five of seven games in Lee Arena beginning with Pittsburg State on Feb. 9 in a game which will be broadcast on KTWU beginning at 5:30 p.m.