Complete game notes

Lady Blues look for sixth-straight win in battle with Bearcats . . . 
The Washburn Lady Blues (19-4, 11-3 MIAA) will be looking for their sixth-straight win and their 23rd straight over Northwest Missouri on Wednesday when the play host to the Bearcats. The Lady Blues topped Truman 80-75 last time out and the Bearcats improved to 13-10 and 8-6 in the MIAA with their 71-58 win over Pittsburg State in Maryville. The Lady Blues are also looking for their seventh straight season in which they have reached the 20-win plateau. During the seven-year stretch, Washburn has also recorded three, 30-win seasons. The Bearcats won the first meeting on Jan. 22, 50-45. Following the game with the Bearcats, Washburn will face arch-rival Emporia State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and wrap up their home slate with Fort Hays State on Feb. 27.

Quick Facts
Matchup: Washburn (19-4, 11-3 MIAA) vs Northwest Missouri (13-10, 8-6 MIAA)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20
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 wusports.com
Coaches: Washburn head coach Ron McHenry is 207-41 (.835) in his eighth season - McHenry is 14-4 against Northwest Missouri.
Northwest Missouri head coach Gene Steinmeyer is in his ninth season at Northwest posting a 126-123 record and a 486-264 overall record in his 24th season. He is 4-16 against Washburn.
Rankings: Washburn is ranked No. 18 in the WBCA/USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll - No. 3 in the NCAA South Central Regional Rankings.
Series Record: WU leads the all-time series 37-8
Streaks: WU has won the last 22 meetings in Topeka
Last Meeting: NWMSU 50-45 on 1/12/08
Last WU win: WU 86-73 in Maryville on 2/14/07
Last NWMSU win: same as above
Worth noting: Washburn is 22-2 all-time against in Topeka with their last win in coming on Nov. 30, 1985 - their only win in Lee Arena.

Lady Blues on radio . . .
The Lady Blues game with Northwest Missouri 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 wusports.com.

The coaches . . .
Washburn head coach Ron McHenry has posted a 207-41 (.835) record overall and 109-29 (.790) 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.)
Northwest Missouri head coach Gene Steinmeyer is in his ninth season at Northwest Missouri State, posting a 126-123 record. He is 486-264 overall in his 24th season overall.
Steinmeyer came to Northwest from Doane College in Crete, Neb., where he notched a 369-132 record. He took Doane to eight conference championships, three district titles and made three consecutive NAIA Final Four appearances.
Steinmeyer holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He earned his master's degree from Nebraska-Lincoln in 1988.

Last Time Out for the Lady Blues . . .
Feb. 16, 2008 - No. 18 Washburn 80, Truman 75 • KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- The No. 18 ranked Washburn Lady Blues led from tip to buzzer in an 80-75 win over the Truman Bulldogs. With the win, Washburn improves to 19-4 and 11-3 in the MIAA and will face Northwest Missouri on Wednesday in Lee Arena at 5:30 p.m.
Washburn blitzed the nets in the opening half connecting on 62 percent of their shots jumping out to leads of 22 to 6 five minutes into the game eventually reaching a 36 to 20 advantage with 8:06 to go in the half, but the Bulldogs sliced the lead back to five at 41-36 going into the halftime break finishing the opening period on a 16-5 run. Washburn was 18 of 29 from the field in the first half led by Renata Germano's nine points off the bench as she hit 4 of 6 field goal attempts to go along with a team-high six rebounds.
In the second half, Washburn scored the first eight points of the half stretching the lead to 13 at 49-36 with 17:29 to go in the game. The Bulldogs again rallied to cut the lead to seven at 55-48 with over 13 minutes to play in the game and eventually the Bulldogs would trim the lead back to five at 59-54 with 8:32 to go before Washburn pulled away to a double digit lead at 67-57 with 5:46 left.
With Washburn leading 75-63 with 1:47 left, the Bulldogs cut the lead as few as four on two different occasions but could not get any closer as the Lady Blues took the five-point win.
Corkey Stiger led the Lady Blues with her second straight 21-point performance with 10 coming in the second half. Janice Bright scored 10 of her 16 in the second frame after hitting 3 of 4 from the field and all four free throw attempts. Amanda Holmes scored 11 points.
Truman's Georgia Mueller finished with a game-high 25 points and ten rebounds.
Washburn shot 51 percent from the field for the game hitting 31 of 60 attempts compared to Truman's 24 of 55 (43 percent).
Truman edged the Lady Blues on the boards 33 to 30.
Washburn outscored the Bulldogs 46 to 24 in the pain and converted 17 turnovers into 21 points.

Notes from the Truman game . . .
Washburn now leads the all-time series 34-8 over the Bulldogs ... the win was the 12th straight over the Bulldogs and the fifth straight in Kirksville ... Washburn improved to 127-2 when scoring at least 70 points under Ron McHenry ... the nine points scored by Renata Germano was a season -high ... the 31 field goals were a season-high ... Truman's 75 points were one shy of an opponent season high ... Washburn is now 11-6 all-time in Pershing Arena ... Amanda Holmes went over the 800-point mark in her career with her 11 points - she now has 811 in 89 career games.
 
Washburn/Northwest Missouri series notes . . .
Wednesday's meeting will be the 46th in the series. Washburn is 37-8 all-time against the Bearcats after having their seven-game winnning streak in the series snapped. The Lady Blues are 22-2 all-time against the Bearcats in Topeka winning the last 22 in a row. The last win for the Bearcats in Topeka was in a 79-65 win on Nov. 30, 1985. Their other victory over Washburn came on Dec. 11, 1981 in Whiting Fieldhouse in a 75-54 win.
 
Last Meeting Between Washburn and Northwest Missouri . . .
(Jan. 12, 2008) MARYVILLE, Mo. – The No. 4 ranked Washburn Lady Blues were held to 16 points in the second half in a 50-45 loss at Northwest Missouri snapping the Lady Blues' five-game winning streak in a battle of the MIAA's only remaining undefeated conference teams. Washburn will be back in action on Wednesday at Fort Hays State. With the loss, Washburn fell to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA.
A traditional 3-point play by Megan Schumacher cut the Washburn lead to 39-35, but Regiane Araujo had a putback to push the lead back to six at 41-35. After a 6-0 run, the Bearcats cut the lead to 41-40. The teams traded baskets and with 1:50 left, the Lady Blues committed one of their 17 turnovers. On the following possession, the Bearcats hit one of two free throws tying the score at 43 with 1:38 remaining. The Lady Blues turned the ball over in backcourt and the Bearcats were fouled on a drive and Meghan Brue hit both free throws giving the Bearcats a 45-43 lead with 1:20 to go.
Following a Northwest timeout, the Lady Blues missed a lay-up and Northwest was fouled with Brue going to the line hitting one of two free throws with 45.5 seconds remaining with a 46-43 lead. Stiger's 3-point attempt was off the mark and Amber Vandevender hit two free throws with 13.9 seconds left to seal the game handing the Lady Blues a three-point loss.
The Lady Blues held the Bearcats without a field goal for the final 4:29 of the first half as Washburn limited Northwest to 8 of 30 shooting in the opening half. Washburn hit 10 of 30 from the field, but hit 6 of 14 from 3-point land including Corkey Stiger's 3 of 6. Janice Bright hit both of her two 3-pointers in the opening 50 seconds of the game staking Washburn to an early 6-0 lead. Washburn held a 25 to 18 advantage in the first half on the glass.
Washburn was held to six field goals in the second half and did not attempt a free throw in the second half as Washburn was eight of 29 in the half and 0 for 8 from behind the 3-point line. The Bearcats were also held to six field goals, but were 18 of 23 from the free throw line in the second half alone as they outscored Washburn 31 to 16 in the final period.
Washburn was led by Stiger who scored all her 11 points in the first half. She was the only Lady Blue to reach double figures in the game.
Washburn finished 18 of 59 from the field for the game (.305) but out shot the Bearcats, who finished 14 of 57 (.246) for the game. The free throw line was a contributing difference in the game as Washburn was 3 of 4 from the free throw line, while Northwest finished 19 of 25.
 
About Northwest Missouri . . .
The Bearcats are 13-10 overall and 8-6 in the MIAA after topping Pittsburg State 71-58 on Feb. 16 in Bearcat Arena.
The Bearcats are in fourth place in the MIAA standings having won their last two games after dropping four straight in MIAA play.
Northwest is averaging 76.2 points per game this season while holding their opponents to 75.0 points per game.
The Bearcats are led by Mandi Schumacher who is averaging 16.1 points per game and 18.5 in MIAA play. Kelli Nelson  is averaging 11.5 ppg after dropping 31 two games ago against Truman hitting a school-record nine 3-pointers.

Last time out for the Bearcats . . .
(Feb. 16, 2008) --  MARYVILLE, Mo.—Mandi Schumacher matched her career high for the third-straight game, scoring a game-high 25 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to lead Northwest Missouri State to a 71-58 victory over Pittsburg State Saturday at Bearcat Arena. It's the fifth double-double for Schumacher this season and the 14th of her career.
Kelli Nelson added 14 points for the Bearcats (13-10, 8-6 MIAA), who improved to 7-2 at home in MIAA play. Jessica Burton had five points, nine rebounds and a career-best eight assists. Brianna Buchanan, Laura Glenn and DePrice Taylor had nine points each to lead the Gorillas (10-13, 4-10).
Nelson, who hit a school-record nine 3-pointers last time out, nailed her first three attempts from behind the arc Saturday. Her fourth 3-pointer gave the Bearcats a 31-16 lead. Northwest built a 39-25 halftime lead and led from start to finish.
Pittsburg State managed one 3-pointer in each half and finished 2 of 17 from behind the arc. The Gorillas shot 24 percent from the field in the first half and 32 percent for the game.
The low shooting percentage was due in part because of 10 blocked shots. Seven different Bearcats blocked a shot against PSU.
Meghan Brue scored seven of her nine points in the second half and converted a 3-point play at the midway point after PSU had cut the lead to eight. The tough runner in the lane ignited an 11-4 run that pushed the lead back to 15. Micaela Uriell capped the rally with a 3 and the Bearcat lead was 10 or more the rest of the way.
Lauren Williams finished a point and a rebound shy of a double-double and added three steals. Northwest had 11 swipes in the contest.

Lady Blues player Notes . . .
#3 – Brette Ulsaker – Hitting 4 of 9 shots from field since returning from stress fracture
#4 – Amanda Holmes – Went over 800-point barrier against Truman (810 - 9.1 per game in career)
#11 – Renata Germano – 9 points, 17 minutes at Truman were career highs
#13 – Jessica Mainz – Averaging 35.7 minutes per game in last 10 games
#14 – Alyssa Mullen – 2 of 5 from 3-point range in MIAA play this season
#20 – Hadleigh Meek – 9 of 10 from the free throw line this season
#21 – Corkey Stiger – 834 career points is 26th all-time, 108 3-pointers is 6th all-time
#23 – Jacki Tipping – Career high 4 points against Truman hitting both field goal attempts
#24 – Karla Tailele – 22 3-pointers this season is 36th in single-season history at WU
#30 – Kalee Silovsky – Six of 10 from field in last five games averaging 4.0 ppg
#32 – Janice Bright – 25 3-pointers this season is 31st on single-season chart
#33 – Hope Gregory – Hit last six free throws
#44 – Emily Gibson – Out with a back injury
#50 – Regiane Araujo – Out with a back injury

Lady Blues in Lee Arena . . .
In their 24th season in Lee Arena, the Lady Blues are 298-56 (.842) overall at home.
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 106-10 (.914) in home games under Ron McHenry.

Lady Blues history . . .
Washburn is 690-324 (.680 in 1,014 games) in its 38th season of intercollegiate action.

WU in the national poll . . .
(Feb. 12) The Washburn Lady Blues climbed one from up to No. 19 in the latest USA Today/ESPN Top 25 WBCA Coaches Poll which was released today. Overall, Washburn has received votes in the last 105 consecutive polls and has been in the top 25 in 89 consecutive polls. 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.

Lady Blues Individual Tip Ins . . .
• Corkey Stiger moved into sixth all-time at Washburn in 3-pointers with 108. She has tied Jennifer Harris for sixth all-time and needs three to move into the top five.
• Stiger's 328 3-point attempts is fifth all-time … she needs five to move into the top four.
• Amanda Holmes is 12th all-time with 234 free throws made and 11th in free throw attempts with 350.
• Holmes is 12th all-time in rebounds at Washburn with 569. She needs 16 more to move into 11th all-time.
• Holmes' 97 career blocked shots is fourth all-time at Washburn needing five to move into sole possession of third place.
• Corkey Stiger has averaged 18.0 ppg in the four losses for the Lady Blues. She is the only Washburn player averaging double figures in the four losses. The next highest scorer is Janice Bright at 8.3 ppg.

Lady Blues Team Tip Ins . . .
• The Lady Blues have held their opponents under 100 points in 274 consecutive games.
• Washburn is averaging 68.9 ppg in MIAA play.
• The Washburn bench is outscoring their opponents this season 478-351.
• In the last five minutes of games, Washburn is being outscored by their opponents 236 to 233.
• In the four losses, the Washburn starters have been outscored 195 to 164.
• Washburn is averaging 72.4 ppg in games won and 53.5 ppg in their four losses.

Up Next . . .
Following the game with the Bearcats on Wednesday, Washburn will have two more home games to finish out the regular season. Emporia State comes to town on Feb. 23 for the second half of the Turnpike Tussle and Fort Hays State will be in Lee Arena on Feb. 27 before wrapping up the regular season at Central Missouri at 1:30 p.m. The contest with Fort Hays State will also be senior day for two Lady Blues seniors - Amanda Holmes and Corkey Stiger.