Matchup: Washburn (13-1, 6-1 MIAA) at Missouri Southern (9-4, 3-3 MIAA) Date: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 Time: 5:30 p.m. CST Site: Joplin, Mo. -- Leggett & Platt Athletic Center (3,240) Radio: KTPK 106.9 FM with play by play with Mark Elliott and Bruce Steinbrock Coaches: Washburn head coach Ron McHenry is 227-45 (.837) in his ninth season. McHenry is 12-4 against Missouri Southern. Maryann Mitts is 125-85 in her eighth year at Missouri Southern and 208-142 in her 13th year overall. She is 3-11 against WU at MSSU and 4-20 against WU overall. She was 1-9 while coaching at Rockhurst. Rankings: Washburn was ranked No. 3 in the WBCA Coaches Poll. MSSU is unranked. Series Record: WU leads the all-time series 38-24 Streaks: WU has won the last three meetings in Joplin Last Meeting: WU 72-59, 2/6/08 in Joplin Last WU win: same Last MSSU win: 69-61 on Jan. 30, 2008 in Topeka Worth noting: Washburn has won 12 of the last 15 meetings and 16 of the last 20 meetings

Radio: KTPK 106.9 FM Web Stream Internet: themiaa.tv (free) Live Stats: through MSSU (free) Washburn Game Notes WBB Page Roster Statistics Schedule Missouri Southern WBB Page Roster Statistics Schedule

Washburn begins road portion of schedule with 7 of 10 away from Lee Arena beginning with trip to Missouri Southern . . . 
The Washburn Lady Blues will hit the road for seven of their next ten games as they travel to Joplin, Mo., to take on Missouri Southern on Saturday. The No. 3 Lady Blues (13-1, 6-1 MIAA) rebounded from their first loss of the season with an 81-68 win over Southwest Baptist. The Lions (9-4, 3-3 MIAA) dropped an 83-70 decision at Emporia State last time out.

Lady Blues on radio . . .
Washburn games with Missouri Southern will be on KTPK 106.9 FM. 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 by clicking the live audio link under Lady Blues Basketball. Pregame show starts 15 minutes before tip.

The coaches . . .
Washburn head coach Ron McHenry has posted a 227-45 (.835) record overall and 118-31 (.791) record in the MIAA with five MIAA regular season championships and the 2005 NCAA National Championship.  McHenry has also led the Lady Blues to four MIAA Postseason Tournament titles including four of the six played in Kansas City. 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 6 of notes.)
Missouri Southern head coach Maryann Mitts has compiled a 125-85 record in her eighth season with the Lions. She holds a 208-142 mark now in her 13th year as a collegiate head coach. Mitts is 4-20 overall against Washburn going 3-11 at Missouri Southern and 1-9 while the coach at her alma mater Rockhurst.

Last time out for the Lady Blues. . .
Jan. 7, 2009 -  TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 3 ranked Lady Blues rebounded from their first loss of the season and Washburn improved to 68-0 with Ron McHenry on the bench when they reach at least 81 points in an 81-62 win over Southwest Baptist in Lee Arena.
Washburn led from start to finish despite being outshot in the first half 50 percent to 40 percent as the Bearcats (5-8, 2-4 MIAA) hit 11 of 22 compared to Washburn's 15 of 38. The Lady Blues jumped out to a lead as big as 16 points on three different occasions with the final margin coming at the 5:03 mark and a 35-19 lead on a Janice Bright jumper in the paint. Southwest Baptist would go on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to eight at 35-27 with 2:32 to go, but the Lady Blues pushed the halftime lead to 11 at 40-29.  Washburn took advantage of 10 Bearcat turnovers in the frame turning them into 16 points.
In the second half, the Bearcats cut the lead to six at 47-41 on a Courtney Creed 3-pointer, but they not get any closer the rest of the way as the Lady Blues went on to the 21-point win.
Bright led the Lady Blues in scoring with 24 points hitting 7 of 14 shots from the field while going a perfect 7 of 7 from the charity stripe. Stanecia Graham scored 14 points with 12 coming in the second half. Jessica Mainz had six assists compared to just one turnover.
Creed led SBU with 14 points and Jasmine Sanford scored 13 off the bench hitting 6 of 7 from the field.
Washburn finished the game hitting 44 percent going 28 of 63 from the field and the Lady Blues held the Bearcats to 22 of 49 from the field for a 45 percent average. The Lady Blues were 17 of 19 from the free throw line and the Bercats were 13 of 17 from the line.
Washburn had a 36 to 25 advantage on the glass and turned 20 Bearcat turnovers into 24 points. Washburn also had 14 second chance points.

Final Notes from the Southwest Baptist Game . . .
Washburn improved to 32-10 following a loss with Ron McHenry on the Lady Blues bench … Since the 2003-04 season, Washburn is 16-0 following a loss … Washburn is now 5-4 on Jan. 7 in the program's history … The Lady Blues have held opponents under 100 points in the last 298 consecutive games … Washburn is now 26-11 against Southwest Baptist and has won the last nine games in Topeka over the Bearcats … Ron McHenry tied former Lady Blues head coach Patty Dick for eighth on the MIAA's all-time win chart. He is now 227-45 on the Lady Blues bench. Patty Dick was 227-96 while Washburn was an MIAA school … Washburn is now 216-9 with under five minutes left and McHenry on the Lady Blues bench. 

About Missouri Southern . . .
Missouri Southern in 9-4 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA. The Lions are 4-2 in the Legget & Platt Center this season, with the losses coming to Central Missouri on Dec. 6 and to Pittsburg State on Jan. 3. India Woods leads the team in scoring with a 12.5 ppg average. Myosha Barnes is averaging 12.2 ppg and Danielle DeVader is averaging 12.1 ppg off the bench this season. She also leads the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game. The Lions are averaging 70.5 ppg and allowing 63.0 ppg.

Washburn/Missouri Southern series notes . . .
Saturday's meeting will be the 63rd in the series between the two schools. The teams split the two regular season meetings last season with each team winning away from their home court. Washburn leads the all-time series 38-24. Washburn had its five-game winning streak in the series snapped on Jan. 30, 2008 in Topeka. Washburn has won 12 of the last 15 meetings and 16 of the last 20 meetings. Washburn has won the last three in Joplin and they had their 11-game winning streak snapped in Topeka on Jan. 30, 2008 in the loss to the Lions. The two teams have never met in Kansas City during the conference tournament. The Lady Blues hold a 3-1 advantage over the Lions overall in MIAA tournament play. Ron McHenry is 12-4 against Missouri Southern overall. Lions head coach Maryann Mitts is 4-20 overall against Washburn going 3-11 at Missouri Southern and 1-9 at Rockhurst.

Last meeting between Washburn and Missouri Southern . . .
(Feb. 6, 2008) JOPLIN, Mo. – The No. 19 Washburn Lady Blues blitzed the second half nets for eight second half 3-pointers avenging an eight-point loss from their first meeting of the season to top Missouri Southern 72-59 in Joplin.
After taking a 28-24 lead into the halftime break, Washburn pushed its lead to 13 at 41-28 with 15:09 left on an Amanda Holmes 3-pointer. The Lions would cut the lead back to eight at 43-35 with 10:46 to go in the game on the second of MSSU's Danielle DeVader's four 3-pointers in the second half.
Washburn and Missouri Southern would trade 3-pointers – the first by Jessica Mainz while was followed by India Wood's keeping the Washburn advantage at eight points at 46-38. The Lady Blues would continue to keep the Lions at arms-length holding at least a 10-point lead the remaining 8:16 of the game.
In the final 2:22 of the game, Washburn would connect on nine of 10 free throws with Mainz hitting seven of eight attempts.
In the second half, Washburn was 11 of 30 from the field, but of the 11 field goals, the Lady Blues were 8 of 13 (61.5 percent) from 3-point range en route to a 9 of 20 performance from downtown for the game.
In the opening half, the teams exchanged the lead four times with four score ties as neither team would get more than a five-point lead. Washburn held the Lions without a field goal in the first half for the final 4:25 of the period turning a three-point deficit into a four-point halftime lead as the Lions finished the half with only two field goal attempts with two free throws and three turnovers.
Corkey Stiger led the Lady Blues with 17 points pacing four Washburn players in double figures followed by Mainz with 15. Holmes scored 12 with a team-high eight rebounds and Janice Bright scored 11. All of Holmes' and Mainz's points came in the second half as Holmes only played six minutes with foul trouble. Mainz also added six of her seven assists in the second half and finished with four steals.
Fatai Hala'Api'Api led the Lions with 19 hitting 11 of 13 from the free throw line and DeVader had 15.
The Lady Blues finished 21 of 62 for the game from the field. After being outrebounded 30 to 28 in last week's loss to the Lions, Washburn held a 39 to 32 rebound advantage with 20 coming on the offensive side turning into 18 second chance points for the Lady Blues.

Last time out for Missouri Southern . . .
(Jan. 7, 2009) EMPORIA, Kan. -- The 10th-ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets shot 61.5 percent from the field in the second half and claimed an 83-70 win over Missouri Southern in White Auditorium.
The Lady Hornets (12-2, 6-1 MIAA) used a 17-4 outburst in the second half -- starting with a run of 10 straight points -- to grab a 51-39 lead with 12:19 on the clock.
The Lions (9-4, 3-3 MIAA) would cut the gap to five, 65-60, on a pair of free throws by senior F Myosha Barnes with 5:04 left to cap an 18-9 run. ESU would score 14 of the next 19 points -- with six from junior G Cassondra Boston -- to regain control.
Emporia State was 16-of-26 from the field in the final 20 minutes, and 20-of-24 (83.3 percent) at the free throw line.
Southern jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the first half, before the Lady Hornets used an 11-2 run to get their first lead with 7:50 remaining, 16-14. Junior G Sophia Lenard scored nine of her 17 points in that stretch.
The lead changed hands three more times in the half, with Southern holding a 30-27 lead at the break. The Lions made just 8-of-38 (21.1 percent) in the first half, but was 4-of-11 from long range and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, ESU committed 14 first-half turnovers.
Boston scored a season-high 26 points, including 20 in the second half for the Lady Hornets. Senior F Ida Edwards added 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks to go with Lenard's 17 points for ESU.
Junior G Jolea Apon scored 18 points off the bench to lead MSSU. Barnes finished with 17 and senior G India Wood added 10 before each fouled out.

Lady Blues in Lee Arena . . .
In their 25th season in Lee Arena, the Lady Blues are 310-57 (.842) overall at home. Washburn won their 300th game against Emporia State on Feb. 23, 2008. The longest winning streak was 44 games from Dec. 1, 1990 to March 20, 1993.
The Lady Blues have won 40 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 119-12 (.909) in home games under Ron McHenry. Five of the 12 losses came in his first year on the Lady Blues bench. In the last seven seasons, Washburn is 111-7 (.941).

Lady Blues history . . .
Washburn is 708-328 (.682 in 1,036 games) in its 40th season of intercollegiate action.

WU in the national poll . . .
(Jan. 6, 2009) The Washburn Lady Blues basketball dropped one spot to No. 3 in the WBCA USA Today ESPN Division II Coaches Poll which was released today. The Lady Blues slipped to the third spot after suffering their first loss of the season in a 79-77 defeat to Central Missouri. The Lady Blues have been ranked in 100 consecutive top 25 polls and have received votes in the last 115 top 25 coaches polls.

Following a Lady Blues loss . . .
• Following a loss, the Lady Blues are 32-10 under head coach Ron McHenry.
• In the 32 wins, the average margin of victory has been 10.9 points. In the last six-plus years (including the 2003-04 season), the Lady Blues are 16-0 following a loss with an average victory margin of 18.0 points per game.

Tip-Ins . . .
• Saturday's game will be Ron McHenry's 150th MIAA game he has coached. He is 118-31 (.792) overall.
• Washburn is 8-4 on Jan. 10 in the program's history.
• Washburn has kept opponents under 100 in 298 consecutive games.
• Jessica Mainz is 14 of 17 (.824) from the free throw line in the last five minutes of games this season.
• Washburn is shooting 158 of 425 (.372) from the field in the first half of games this season and 187 of 374 (.500) in the second half of games this season.
• Washburn is scoring 8.3 more points per game in the second half compared to the first half of games this season (38.9 to 30.6).
• Washburn opponents are shooting 121 of 346 (.350) in the first half and 147 of 367 (.401) in the second half of games this season.
• Washburn starters are outscoring their opponents starters 594 to 573 (42.4 ppg to 40.9 ppg) while the Washburn bench is outscoring their opponents 404 to 196 (28.9 ppg to 14.0 ppg) - more than 2 to 1 ratio.

Under head coach Ron McHenry . . .
• McHenry has tied former Lady Blues head coach Patty Dick for eighth on the MIAA's all-time win chart with his 227th win. McHenry enters the MSSU game with a 227-45 record. Dick had a 227-96 record while she was on the sidelines from 1989-2000 with Washburn playing as an MIAA school after joining from the NAIA ranks.
• Washburn is 196-13 when leading at the half.
• Washburn is 69-0 when scoring at least 81 points.
• When opponents are held to 70 points or below, Washburn is 171-31 … when opponents are held to 60 points or less, the Lady Blues are 158-14.
• Washburn is 52-21 in the month of January.
• Washburn is 216-9 when leading with five minutes to go in the game.
• Washburn is 191-10 when outshooting their opponent.
• Washburn is 34-20 against ranked teams and the Lady Blues' record against ranked teams when both are ranked in the top 25 is 31-12.

Lady Blue Notes. . .
#3 • Brette Ulsaker • G • 5-9 • Jr. • Has averaged 4.1 ppg as a starter (8 games) and 4.3 ppg off the bench (6 games)
#4 • Stanecia Graham • F • 6-1 • Sr. • Has reached double figures in 8 of 14 games this season
#5 • Erica Brown • G • 5-9 • Jr. • Averaging 3.3 ppg in four games since joining team at semester
#10 • Lauren Henry • G • 5-4 • Fr. • Saw first action against FHSU after having appendix removed before Thanksgiving
#11 • Renata Germano • C • 6-2 • Sr. • 26 career blocks is 24th all-time at Washburn
#13 • Jessica Mainz • G • 5-9 • Sr. • Career .708 FT percentage (148-209) is 20th all-time at Washburn
#14 • Alyssa Mullen • F • 5-11 • So. • Three of seven from field in last three games (avg. 2.6 ppg)
#20 • Hadleigh Meek • G • 5-8 • So. • Two of four from free throw line this season with four assists in seven games
#21 • Cassie Lombardino • C • 6-3 • Fr. • Four of eight from field in seven games with five rebounds
#23 • Jacki Tipping • G • 5-10 • Jr. • Redshirting after having preseason ankle surgery
#24 • Karla Tailele • G • 5-6 • Sr. • 47 career 3-pointers rank 20th on all-time chart at Washburn
#25 • Stevi Schultz • G • 5-9 • Fr. • Five of 16 from 3-point range this season
#30 • Kalee Silovsky • F • 6-0 • Sr. • Has had at least five rebounds in four games this season
#32 • Janice Bright • G • 5-9 • Sr. • Has scored 24, 26, 24 points in last three games (24 of 40 from field)
#33 • Hope Gregory • F • 5-10 • So. • Averaging 7.2 ppg coming off the bench (6 games) and 6.9 ppg as a starter (8 games)
#40 • Dayna Rodriguez • F • 6-2 • Jr. • Three steals against Southwest Baptist was a career high
#42 • Raychel Boling • F • 6-0 • Jr. • Redshirting after transferring from Fort Hays State
#44 • Emily Gibson • F • 6-1 • So. • Has played in eight games scoring six points hitting all four free throw attempts

NCAA Regional dates and Elite Eight dates have changed . . .
This year's NCAA South Central Regional dates have been changed to the 13, 14, and 16th of March and the Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas has moved to the 24, 25 and 27th of March with the championship game scheduled for a Friday instead of the normal Saturday title game.

Up Next . . .
Washburn will return home for a Jan. 14th tilt with Pittsburg State in Lee Arena and then return to the road playing six of their next eight games on the road starting with a Jan. 17th trip to Emporia State. Washburn will not play in Topeka again until Jan. 31 when they will face Missouri Western.