Media Information
Date: Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Arena: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center (3,240)
Television: None
Radio: AM 580 WIBW with Mark Elliott (pxp) and Bruce Steinbrock (color)
Live Stats: www.mssulions.com
Audio Web Stream: Through wusports.com
Video Web Stream: Through wusports.com
Complete Game Notes

Lady Blues look to continue winning ways at Missouri Southern
The No. 8-ranked Lady Blues look to continue their winning ways as they hit the road to Missouri Southern on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Washburn grabbed control midway through the first half and rolled to an 89-73 win over Southwest Baptist on Wednesday night at Lee Arena. Cassie Lombardino led the Lady Blues with a career-high 35 points, the fourth highest single-game scoring total in school history.
The Lady Blues are led by three players averaging in double figures. Lombardino leads Washburn at 16.6 points per game. Stevi Schultz upped her scoring average to 14.4 per contest and Laura Kinderknecht is chipping in 10.5 per outing.
Washburn will face a Missouri Southern team that is coming off a 93-69 loss at No. 6 Emporia State on Wednesday night. The Lions had won five straight games before falling at ESU.

Lady Blues on radio . . .
The Lady Blues game on Saturday afternoon at Missouri Southern will be broadcast on AM 580 WIBW. Mark Elliott will be calling play-by-play action with Bruce Steinbrock providing the color-commentary. The games will also be streamed live online by clicking the live audio button under the Lady Blues Basketball tab on the Washburn Athletics web site at www.wusports.com.
The game will also be webcast through America One Networks. You can access the webcast by clicking on the B2/MIAA advertisement on the lower right side of the Washburn athletics web site main page at www.wuports.com

The Coaches . . .
Washburn head coach Ron McHenry has posted a 278-54 (.837) overall record and a 151-38 (.799) record in the MIAA with six MIAA regular season championships and the 2005 NCAA National Championship. McHenry has also led the Lady Blues to six MIAA Postseason Tournament titles, including six of the eight played in Kansas City. McHenry has the highest winning percentage (.836) 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 leads the country among active women's NCAA Division II Coaches in winning percentage. McHenry was named the MIAA's Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2010 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, is in his 10th season leading the Lion program. Missouri Southern is off to a 7-4 start this season, including 5-2 in MIAA play. Mitts' record at MSSU is 157-108, while her career record stands at 240-167 in her 14th season as a head coach. Last season, the Rockhurst graduate led the Lions to a 15-13 overall record and a fifth place finish in the MIAA at 9-11.

Last time out for the Lady Blues . . .
January 5, 2011 - TOPEKA, Kan. -- The eighth-ranked Lady Blues cruised to an 89-73 win over Southwest Baptist on Wednesday night behind Cassie Lombardino's career-high 35 points. Washburn is back in action this Saturday at Missouri Southern at 1 p.m.
Washburn (10-1, 6-1 MIAA) jumped out to a 4-0 lead on buckets by Stevi Schultz and Lombardino. The Bearcats (4-7, 1-6 MIAA) nailed back-to-back threes to grab their only lead of the game at 6-4. A 10-4 run by the Lady Blues put them in front 16-8 with 13:29 to play in the half. Southwest Baptist rallied to tie the game at 22-all with 10:03 remaining in the stanza.
The teams traded buckets to tie the game at 24 when the Lady Blues went on a 15-0 run to grab control at 39-24 with just over three minutes to play in the half. SBU used a 9-2 run of their own to get back to within eight, but Lombardino closed the half with a conventional three-point play and Washburn led 44-33 at the break.
A 6-2 run out of the half got the Bearcats to within seven at 46-39. The lead was still seven when the Lady Blues went on a 14-5 run to open a 16-point advantage, 64-48 with 12:37 to play in the game. The Bearcats whittled the lead down to 10 several times, the final time with 4:57 to play, but Washburn closed the game on a 14-8 run for the 16-point win.
Lombardino led all scorers with her career-high 35 on 15-of-22 shooting. The 35 points is the fourth highest single-game total in school history. She also had eight rebounds
Schultz finished with 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Laura Kinderknecht and Alyssa Mullen chipped in 14 and 10 points, respectively. Kinderknecht set a new career-high and Mullen tied her's with six assists each.
Washburn shot 51.5 percent from the floor, 35-of-68, but were just 6-of-20 for 30 percent from behind the three-point line. The Lady Blues were 13-of-18 from the foul line for 72 percent.
Ashleigh Gallio led the Bearcats with 20 points, while Jacqui Zelenka had 17 and Whitney Malone chipped in 13. SBU shot 43 percent from the field, 26-of-61 and were 8-of-24 from three-point land for 33.3 percent. The Bearcats also made 13-of-18 from the charity stripe.
Washburn out-rebounded SBU 40-34 and had 23 assists compared to 13 for the Bearcats.

Notes from the win over Southwest Baptist . . .
• Washburn improved to 6-1 in MIAA play for the second time in three years
• Washburn extended its winning streak to seven straight over the Bearcats
• Cassie Lombardino's career-high 35 points was the fourth highest single-game total in school history

Washburn/Missouri Southern series notes . . .
Washburn leads the overall series with Missouri Southern 40-26, including a 14-6 advantage under Ron McHenry. The teams have split the season series the past three years. The Lady Blues are 6-4 against MSSU in Joplin under McHenry.

About Missouri Southern . . .
The Lions are coming off a 93-67 setback at No. 6 Emporia State on Wednesday night. Missouri Southern had won five straight conference games before that loss and now sit at 7-4 overall and 5-2 in league play.
Jasmine Lovejoy leads the team and the MIAA in scoring at 18.5 points per game. She also leads the team pulling down 8.1 rebounds per contest, including 8.9 boards per conference game. She shoots 55.1 percent from the field.
Erin Rice is the only other Lion averaging in double figures at 11.5 points per contest.
MSSU is shooting 41 percent from the floor as a team and averages 66.5 points per game. Opponents shoot 40 percent against the Lions and are averaging 63.6 points per outing.
The Lions are out-rebounding their opponents 36.2-34.1 and hold the foes to 32.8 percent from behind the three-point line.
During their five-game winning streak the Lions won by an average of 11.4 points per game with four of the five wins coming at home.

Last Time out for Missouri Southern . . .
MSSU Sports Info. - January 5, 2011 - Emporia, Kan. - A hot shooting sixth ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets (10-1, 7-0 MIAA) shut down the Missouri Southern Lions (7-4, 5-2 MIAA), 93-67, in Emporia, Kan. Wednesday night.
The Lions gave up a season-high 93 points to the Lady Hornets as Southern shot 40 percent (24-of-60) from the field, while the Lady Hornets shot 53.1 percent (34-of-64).
Emporia State jumped out to a 16-4 lead at the 12:41 mark in the first stanza before the Lions went on a 10-2 run to pull withing four at 18-14 at the 10:05 mark on a three-pointer by Senior Jasmine Lovejoy.  The Lady Hornets then went on a 5-0 run to go up 23-14.  Southern then held their own the finish of the first half with the Lady Hornets outscoring them 21-19.
Lovejoy led all scorers with 24 while recording her second straight, fourth overall, double-double with 11 rebounds.
Sophomore Erin Rice and junior Michelle Hedgecock scored eight and seven points, respectively, and both pulled down three boards.  All of Rice's eight points came in the second half of play.
Senior LaTice Jones also scored seven points for Southern going three-of-four from the charity stripe.
Senior Danielle Harris saw her first action of the season after sitting out the first half of the season with a foot injury.  Harris scored her first two points of the season on a jump shot in the paint at the 11:39 mark in the second half.
Senior Afton Baldwin, junior Larrita Gipson, and sophomore Kelby Fritz each added five points for the Lions.
Missouri Southern will return to action at home Saturday afternoon against eighth ranked Washburn Lady Blues.  Tipoff is at 1 PM in The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Last Meeting Between Washburn and Missouri Southern . . .
February 17, 2010 - JOPLIN, Mo. -- The 13th-ranked Washburn Lady Blues never trailed and rolled to an 81-57 win over Missouri Southern on Wednesday night at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Washburn will be back in action on Saturday night against Pittsburg State. Tip-off on Senior Night is set for 5:30 p.m. in Lee Arena.
The Lady Blues (21-3, 15-3 MIAA) grabbed a 9-3 lead in the opening minutes. The Lions (13-11, 7-10 MIAA) used a 6-0 run to tie the game at nine with 15:21 to play in the half, but an 8-0 spurt by Washburn gave the Lady Blues the lead for good. MSSU rallied to within two at 20-18 midway through the half, but an 11-2 run gave Washburn an 11-point advantage with 6:46 to play in the opening stanza. The lead was nine at 34-25 following a Lion bucket, but the Lady Blues closed the half on a 10-0 run to lead 44-25 at the intermission.
Washburn opened the second half on a 12-4 run and led 56-29 with 16:06 to play in the game. The Lady Blues pushed the lead to as many as 30 with 10:08 left in regulation. The lead never dipped below 25 the rest of the way and WU cruised to the 81-57 win. With the win and Pittsburg State's win over Emporia State the Lady Blues are now tied for first in the MIAA with two games to play.
Hope Gregory led the Lady Blues with a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds. Dayna Rodriguez added 17 points. Rose Hammond set a new career-high with eight assists. Washburn shot 45 percent, 27-of-60, from the floor, including 10-of-22 for 46 percent from behind the three-point line. The Lady Blues also shot 77 percent, 17-of-22, from the free throw line.
Jasmine Lovejoy and Jolea Apon led Missouri Southern with 12 points apiece.
Washburn out-rebounded MSSU 40-31 and held the Lions to 40 percent from the floor, 21-of-52 and 6-of-19 for 32 percent from behind the arc.
Washburn remained at No. 3 in the NCAA South Central Regional rankings that were released earlier on Wednesday. The four Lady Blues seniors will be honored between the women's and men's games on Saturday night.

A Win Would . . .
A win would make the Lady Blues 11-1 for the first time since the 2007-08 season ... give Washburn a 41-26 lead in the series with Missouri Southern ... give WU a 7-1 MIAA start for the second straight season ... give Washburn a 760-337 record in 42 years of basketball.

A Loss Would . . .
A loss would give the Lady Blues an 10-2 record for the first time under Ron McHenry ... drop the Lady Blues to 6-2 in the MIAA for the first time since the 2007-08 season ... give Washburn a 759-338 record in 42 years of basketball.

Against Ranked Opponents . . .
The Lady Blues are 38-23 when facing a ranked opponent under Ron McHenry. Washburn was 2-1 against ranked competition last year. The Lady Blues are 11-5 against ranked teams over the past three seasons.

Lady Blues in The MIAA . . .
The Lady Blues are 151-38 (.799) under head coach Ron McHenry in MIAA games and 275-91 (.751) all-time in conference play.  

Lady Blues in Lee Arena . . .
In their 27th season in Lee Arena, the Lady Blues are 333-59 (.849) 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 47 straight regular season non-conference games in Lee Arena. The last home loss to a non-conference team in the regular season was to Missouri-St. Louis in a 59-51 setback on Dec. 30, 2000.
Washburn is 142-14 (.910) in home games under Ron McHenry. Five of the 14 losses came in his first year on the Lady Blues bench. In the last 10 seasons, Washburn is 134-9 (.937).

Lady Blues on the road . . .
The Lady Blues are 78-31 (.716) on the road under Ron McHenry. Washburn's best road record under McHenry was 8-0 during the 2005-06 season. The Lady Blues were 10-1 on the road last season, including 9-1 during MIAA play.

Lady Blues History . . .
Washburn is 759-337 (.693 in 1,096 games) in its 42nd season of intercollegiate action. The Lady Blues have won seven MIAA regular season titles and eight MIAA postseason tournament championships since becoming eligible for conference championships in 1990-91.

Washburn in the National Poll . . .
Washburn dropped four spots to No. 8 in the latest WBCA USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll released on Tuesday
The Lady Blues were No. 10 in the final USA Today/ESPN Top 25 WBCA Coaches Poll of the 2009-10 season. Overall, Washburn has received votes in the last 142 consecutive polls and has been ranked in the top 25 in 126 consecutive polls, the longest active streak in NCAA-II.

Blues Clues . . .
#1 • Naudia Campbell • C • 6-2 • Jr. • Scored 12 points with five rebounds in loss at Missouri Western
#4 • Lindy Arndt • G • 5-11 • Fr. • Hit two 3FG's in win over CSU Dominguez Hills
#5 • Laura Kinderknecht • G • 5-7 • So. • Made career-high five 3FG's in win over Central Missouri
#10 • Dana Channel • G •5-10 • Fr. • Scored four points in the win over Fort Hays State
#14 • Alyssa Mullen • F • 5-11 • Sr. • Scored career-high 17 points in the win over Northwest Missouri State
#15 • Sami McHenry • G • 5-8 • Fr. • Scored two points against Missouri Western
#20 • Dana Elliott • F • 5-11 • So. • Tied career-high with five points in just four minutes of action against Drury
#21 • Cassie Lombardino • C • 6-3 • Jr. • Her 35 points in win over Southwest Baptist was the fourth highest single-game total in school history
#22 • Megan Lassley • G • 5-4 • Jr. • Scored 15 points in first game as a Lady Blue
#24 • Ebonie Williams • G • 5-8 • Sr. • Will sit out the 2010-11 season after transferring from Seton Hall
#25 • Stevi Schultz • G • 5-9 • Jr. • Scored career-high 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds in the win over Fort Hays State
#32 • Sierra Moeller • F • 6-1 • Jr. • Suffered a season-ending injury in exhibition game at Kansas State
#33 • Amy Green • G • 5-10 • Jr. • Grabbed four boards in 13 minutes in first game for Washburn
#42 • Raychel Boling • F • 6-0 • Sr. • Grabbed career-high seven boards in season-opening win over Southwestern
#44 • Laura McMullin • F • 6-1 • So. • Scored five points and grabbed five rebounds in season-opening win over Southwestern

Tip-Ins . . .
• The Lady Blues are 7-4 in games played on January 8, including 3-0 under Ron McHenry.

Up Next . . .
The Lady Blues return home to host Pittsburg State on January 12 at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Emporia State next Saturday for the first installment of the Turnpike Tussle on January 15 at 1:08 p.m.

Time Change for Emporia State Game . . .
The Lady Blues game at Emporia State next Saturday, January 15 has been moved up to a 1:00 p.m. start due to the game being broadcast on Cox 22 television. The game had originally been slated to start at 5:30 p.m.