Game 13 Lady Blues vs Missouri Western

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No. 21 Washburn Lady Blues (9-3, 2-1 MIAA)
vs Missouri Western (2-6, 0-4 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, December 17, 2011
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Topeka, Kan.
Arena: Lee Arena (3,904)
Radio: 106.9 KTPK FM with Mark Elliott (play-by-play) & Jake Lebahn (color)
Video: America One (fee)
Series Record: WU leads 44-38
Last Meeting: WU 58-55 on 03/04/11 (N, MIAA Tourney 1st Rd)
Washburn Coach Ron McHenry: 299-63 (.826) in 12th year at WU and overall
MWSU Coach Lynn Plett: 41-75 (.353) in 5th year at MWSU and 317-309 in 17th year overall (.506)

Lady Blues host Griffons Saturday before 13-day break
The Lady Blues will host Missouri Western Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Lee Arena as head coach Ron McHenry will look for his 300th win in his 12th year at Washburn.

No. 21 Washburn (9-3, 2-1 MIAA) will look to bounce back after a 68-66 buzzer-beater loss to Truman last Saturday. The game will be the final before a 13-day holiday break.

Missouri Western is 2-6 overall and winless in the MIAA at 0-4. The Griffons will be looking for their first win since November 22. They lost 70-48 last Saturday at Fort Hays State.

The Lady Blues bring a very strong defense into Saturday's matchup. They are 11th in the nation and first in the MIAA allowing just 51.3 points a game. They're fifth in the nation with a +23.8 scoring margin. Missouri Western is last in the MIAA scoring just 57.4 points a game and shooting .334 from the field.

Ebonie Williams leads the Lady Blues with 12.3 points a game, 16th in the MIAA, and MWSU's Jessica Koch leads the league with 21.3 points a game.

Washburn leads the all-time series against MWSU 44-38. They split the regular season series last year and WU won the most previous meeting, 58-55 on March 4 in the MIAA tournament first round.

Last Time Out: Truman 68, Washburn 66
TOPEKA, Kan. - Truman State hit a jumper as time expired to give the Bulldogs a 68-66 win Saturday in Lee Arena in Washburn's MIAA home opener. The 15th-ranked Lady Blues fell to 9-3 and 2-1 in the MIAA. They'll play at home next Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against Missouri Western.

Sierra Moeller hit a lay-up with 29 seconds remaining to tie the game at 66-66. The Bulldogs called timeout and then Jennifer Conway missed a lay-up but Nicole Gloor got the rebound for the Bulldogs on a tie-up. On the inbounds play Megan Sharpe caught the pass in the middle of the lane and sunk the jumper to end the game and give Truman its first win against Washburn in Lee Arena.

Cassie Lombardino went 8 of 11 from the field for 16 points. Ebonie Williams had 13 points off 6 of 9 shooting and Moeller went 6 for 10 for 12 points. Dana Elliott led Washburn with six rebounds.

Washburn shot a season-high .596 from the field while the Bulldogs shot 39 percent. Truman took advantage of 17 WU turnovers while committing just eight. Washburn won the rebound battle 30 to 24.

The Bulldogs went 6 of 13 from 3-point range while Washburn was 2 of 5. The Bulldogs shot 93 percent from the free throw line, making 14 of 15 while Washburn was 8 of 11 for a 73 percent effort.

Lombardino gave Washburn a 10-point lead with a jumper at the 10:14 mark of the first half. That shot was part of an 11-0 run that gave the Lady Blues their biggest lead of the night, 14 with 8:04 remaining before halftime. Williams had five straight during that stretch.

The Lady Blues matched that 14-point advantage two more times in the half but Truman ended the period on a 13-6 run to cut Washburn's lead to 37-30 at halftime.

The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead in the second half and a 7-0 run tied it at 49-49 with 12:31 remaining. There were seven more ties after that including Moeller's basket with 29 seconds remaining.

Jennifer Conway led the Bulldogs with 18 points. Breanna Daniels and Nicole Gloor each had 12. Becka McHenry had a game-high six assists.

Final notes on the TSU game
Washburn is now 40-9 all-time against Truman...the Bulldogs won for the first time in Lee Arena but Washburn still holds a 25-2 advantage in home games...their only other win in Topeka came in 1979-80 in Whiting Auditorium...Washburn's .596 field goal percentage is its highest since going .619 at Barry on December 18, 2008, and the highest in a loss since at least 1998-99.  

McHenry takes another crack at 300th win
Ron McHenry began his 12th season with the Lady Blues in 2011-12 and he needs just one more win to reach 300 in his career, all at WU. After going 9-3 to start the season, McHenry has a 299-63 (.826) record.

McHenry has had at least 23 wins in every year but his first. He's reached the 30-win mark three times. After a 13-14 record in his first season, 2000-01, McHenry has brought the Lady Blues to the NCAA tournament 10 straight times.

McHenry entered the season second in NCAA Division II history with an .829 winning percentage (among coaches with at least 10 years) and second among active coaches in winning percentage (among coaches with at least five years). Thirty-six active DII coaches have reached the 300-win level and McHenry is looking to become the 37th.

McHenry, a national champion in 2004-05, has won 79 percent of his MIAA games with a 162-42 record. He is the Washburn career leader in winning percentage among the five coaches since the program started in 1969-70. He is second in career wins at WU behind Patty Dick with 431 from 1977-00.

Lady Blues 21st in USA Today ESPN national poll
The Lady Blues fell to 21st in the latest USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll released Tuesday. Washburn went 1-1 last week and is 9-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA.

Washburn is one of four ranked MIAA teams. Pittsburg State is 18th, Central Missouri is 22nd and Emporia State is 23rd. Fort Hays State, Truman and Northwest Missouri are getting votes but no ranking.

The Lady Blues were 15th last week and they have been ranked in all five polls this year. They were left out of the final poll last year but have been ranked in 145 of the last 146 polls, dating back to week three of the 2002-03 season.

MIAA coaches and media pick Lady Blues first
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Lady Blues were picked as the team to beat in the MIAA's coaches and media preseason polls released during the MIAA Virtual Media Day. Washburn was a unanimous pick in the coaches poll and earned 12 of 16 first place votes in the media poll.

The Lady Blues, second-place finishers last year with a 22-7 overall record and a 17-5 MIAA mark, were picked in front of Emporia State in both polls. Defending regular season and tournament champion Northwest Missouri was picked third in the media poll and tied for fifth in the coaches poll.

Schultz takes over 2nd in career 3-pointers at Washburn
Senior guard Stevi Schultz moved into second in school history, now with 168 3-pointers in her career. She recently passed Lora Westling, who had 144 from 2001-05. Brooke Ubelaker (2003-07) is the career leader with 236 at WU.

This year she's 32 of 79 from long range for a .405 percentage. Schultz' 82 3-pointers last year was the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.

Wednesday at FHSU she went without a 3-pointer for the first time since the end of the 2009-10 season. She made one in all 29 games last year and the first 10 this year.

After sitting at least a year, pair of DI transfers start big for Lady Blues
Senior guard Ebonie Williams was named the Disney Tip-Off West Coast Classic MVP as she made her Washburn debut after sitting out a year. The Seton Hall transfer leads Washburn with 12.3 points a game hitting double digits in nine of the 12 games this year. She's shooting 58 percent from the field and 51 percent from 3-point range. Williams scored 1,123 for the Division I Pirates and was an all-Big East second team pick in 2008-09, her sophomore year. She transferred to WU after her junior year and sat out last year.

Junior forward Sierra Moeller played in her first regular season games since 2008-09 and leads the team with 8.0 rebounds a game, getting to double figures five times. She's scored in double figures three times and averages 7.7 points a game. She played her freshman year in 2008-09 at Boise State, scoring 3.8 points with 3.7 rebounds and then sat out at Washburn in 2009-10 after transferring. Last year she played in two exhibitions before a knee injury kept her out of the regular season.

Lending a helping hand...
The Lady Blues are leading the MIAA with 18.3 assists a game, getting helpers on 64 percent of made baskets. Washburn's opponents are averaging 8.9 assists a game and averaging assists on 52 percent of made baskets.

Washburn's assists totals have been well distributed as only one player is in the top 15 in the league (Stevi Schultz was 10th with 3.1 a game).

Season Flash Backs: Don't Forget...
400 straight under 100: The Lady Blues 67-60 win at Fort Hays State on December 7 marked the 400th straight game Washburn has kept opponents under 100 points. The last time was on January 27, 1999, at Emporia State.
School-record margin of victory: Washburn's 92-point win over Tabor on November 14 is the highest in school history. The previous largest was by 87 on November 25, 1983 to St. John's (Kan.), 113-26. This was Washburn's 11th 100-point game in school history and first since winning 102-43 to Southwestern on November 23, 2009.
Another 100-point game!: Washburn made it back-to-back 100-point games for the first time in school history with a 108-60 win over Southwestern on November 16. The Lady Blues had record triple-digit games twice in the same season in 2005-06 and 1983-84 but never in consecutive games.
Happiest Place on Earth: The Lady Blues went 3-0 in the season-opening Disney Tip-Off West Coast Classic to claim the trophy. Ebonie Williams earned MVP honor after averaging 12.0 points a game and shooting 56 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range. Williams was 6 of 7 in the de facto title game, scoring 15 points with three 3-pointers. In her debut, she had 14 points off 5 of 9 shooting.
Near DI  Upset: A last-second lay-up spoiled Washburn's exhibition upset bid, 52-50, at Kansas State on November 8. Ebonie Williams led WU with 15 points.

Last time out against Missouri Western
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The second-seeded Lady Blues held off seventh-seeded Missouri Western 58-55 on March 4 at Municipal Auditorium in the first round of the MIAA tournament.

Western jumped out a 9-3 lead with all nine points coming from Jessica Koch. Washburn (22-5) responded with back-to-back threes from Stevi Schultz and Laura Kinderknecht to tie the game with 15:26. MWSU scored six of the final eight points of the half and Washburn led 35-33 at the break.

The Lady Blues went cold in the second half as Missouri Western rallied to take a 39-35 lead five minutes into the half.  A jumper from Rachel Luteyn and lay-up from Koch pushed Missouri Western back in front 52-51 with 3:32 left in the game. Alyssa Mullen put WU back in front with a lay-up and then buried a three to break a 53-53 tie and put Washburn in front for good with 2:15 left in the game.

The Griffons cut the lead to one on a steal and lay-up with 27 seconds to play. After a missed Washburn free throw MWSU had two point-blank looks, but couldn't convert. Schultz grabbed the rebound and after being fouled, drained two free throws to put WU in front by three.

Kinderknecht led Washburn with 15 points on a career-high tying five three pointers to go along with four assists. Mullen recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Schultz finished with 12 points and seven boards. Lassley had eight points, five boards and three assists.

Washburn shot 31.1 percent (19 of 61) from the field and 40 percent (12 of 30) from three point range. The Lady Blues were 8 of 13 from the charity stripe for 61.5 percent. WU also out-rebounded the Griffons 46-40.

Koch led MWSU with a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. Luteyn finished with nine points, while Alicia Bell and Lauren Nolke had eight points apiece.

The Griffons were 22 of 63 from the floor for 34.9 percent and 5 of 17 for 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. They shot 60 percent (6 of 10) from the free throw line.

Up next for the Lady Blues
The Lady Blues will take 13 days off after Saturday's game for the holiday break. They'll resume play on New Year's Eve at Central Missouri in a 1:30 p.m. MIAA game.

Blue Notes: Player-By-Player Tip-Ins

#1 Katie Moyer • 5-5 Jr. G • Olpe, Kan. • Independence CC
Had first WU career points with 6 against Tabor...played in first six games this year, and has missed the last six..averaged 7.3 points as a sophomore at Independence CC last year.
#3 Casyn Buchman • 5-9 Fr. G • McPherson, Kan. • McPherson HS
Has played in all 12 games and shooting 44 percent from 3-point range...averaging 1.7 assists a game with at least one every game but one...had career-high four November 28 against Evangel...scored career-high eight points twice, first against Southwestern November 16 and second on November 28 against Evangel...scored five straight for Washburn during second-half 8-0 run in win over St. Martin's at Disney...scored 14.0 points a game her senior year at McPherson High School.
#4 Lindy Arndt • 5-11 So. G • Emporia, Kan. • Emporia HS
Has played in eight games this year...had her first points of year with season-high four November 14 against Tabor...averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 rebounds...scored 21 points in 11 games last year.
#5 Laura Kinderknecht • 5-7 Jr. G • St. Mary's, Kan. • St. Mary's HS
Has played in all 12 games this year...averaging 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds a game off the bench...averaging 1.5 assists a game...had season-high 11 points December 7 at FHSU while going 4 of 6 from the field with two 3-pointers...averaged 10.7 points a game last year, starting all 29.
#10 Dana Channel • 5-10 So. G • Rossville, Kan. • Rossville HS
Had five points twice this year (Tabor and East Central) to tie career high...set a career high November 28 against Evangel with five rebounds...has played all but the last two games with 13 points and 12 rebounds...played in 23 games last year scoring 33 points.
#11 Alyssa Nikkel • 5-8 Fr. G • Goddard, Kan. • Cheney HS
Has played in all but four games this year with six points and three assists...scored five points against CSUDH with a 3-pointer...led Cheney High School in scoring, assists and steals as Cardinals went undefeated with a state title her senior year in 2010-11.
#15 Sami McHenry • 5-8 So. G • Topeka, Kan. • Shawnee Heights HS
Played her only game of year November 28 against Evangel with three minutes and two rebounds...played as a libero/defensive specialist on the No. 5-ranked Washburn volleyball team that ended its season in the NCAA South Central Region final last weekend...scored two points in eight games last year...father is head coach Ron McHenry.
#20 Dana Elliott • 5-11 Jr. F • Wamego, Kan. • Rock Creek HS
Started the first eight games this year and has played in all 12...averaging 4.8 points, 1.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds...since moving to non-starting role in last three games, has gone 9 of 11 and is averaging 6.3 points a game...had a career-high 11 points and seven rebounds December 7 at Fort Hays State...had a career-high six assists November 14 against Tabor......went 4 for 7 against CSUDH with season-high nine points...played 28 games off the bench last year and averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds.
#21 Cassie Lombardino • 6-3 Sr. C • Bonner Springs, Kan. • Basehor-Linwood HS
Has started every game this year...has reached double figures in seven of 12 games to push her season average to 10.2 points a game...averaging 5.6 rebounds and team-high 1.7 blocks a game...had season-high 18 points December 3 at NWMSU off 8 of 11 shooting...had career-high six blocks November 19 at Midwestern State...just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds November 6 against Hawaii Pacific...started every game last year and tied for team lead with 15.0 points a game...earned second team all-MIAA.
#22 Megan Lassley • 5-4 Sr. G • Wichita, Kan. • Seward County CC
Made her first start of season November 28 against Evangel and has started four straight...shot 5 of 6 November 14 against Tabor for 14 points, one off her career high...scoring 4.7 points with 1.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists this year...hit three 3-pointers against Hawaii Pacific for nine points...had three steals against St. Martin's to tie a career high...was an every-game starter last year, averaging 7.1 points and a team-high 3.5 assists a game.
#23 Stormye Everett • 5-9 Jr. G • Aurora, Colo. • Western Neb. CC
Has played in eight games...averaging 4.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 5.4 minutes...had 11 points at Disney against Hawaii Pacific in just nine minutes...hit 5 of 7 shots in that game...averaged 13.7 points a game in 2009-10 as a sophomore at Western Nebraska CC.
#24 Ebonie Williams • 5-8 Sr. G • Hagerstown, Md. • Seton Hall
Has started all 12 games...shooting 58 percent this year, 3rd best in MIAA and 20th in nation, and 51 percent from 3-point range...has scored in double figures in nine of her 12 games this year...leads Washburn with 12.3 points a game...had 15 points against Hawaii Pacific off 6 of 7 shooting...went 3 for 3 from 3-point range that game...named Disney Classic tournament MVP...a DI transfer from Seton Hall where she scored over 1,000 points in her three years there, leading her team every year.
#25 Stevi Schultz • 5-9 Sr. G • Neodesha, Kan. • Neodesha HS
Second in career 3-pointers at Washburn with 168...had first double-double of the year with 12 points and 13 rebounds at FHSU on December 7...has reached double figures in eight of 12 games...second on team with 11.3 points a game while averaging 3.1 assists (10th in MIAA) and 5.0 rebounds...tied a career high with six assists against Hawaii Pacific and then set a career high with seven November 19 at Midwestern State...scored 15 points in exhibition at Kansas State...tied for team lead in scoring last year with 15.0 points a game and earned first team all-MIAA and second  team all-region.
#30 Brittney Lynch • 6-1 Fr. F • Omaha, Neb. • Elkhorn HS
Had breakout game with team-high 16 points and nine rebounds November 14 against Tabor...shot 6 of 10 from the field that game...has played off the bench in every game and is averaging 5.8 points and 3.4 rebounds...shooting 50 percent from the field...in high school she averaged 15.8 points and 7.9 rebounds her senior year.
#32 Sierra Moeller • 6-1 Jr. F • Pierre, S.D. • Boise State
Has started all 12 games in her Washburn debut after sitting out two straight years...leading the team with 8.0 rebounds a game getting double figures five times...scored season-high 16 points November 28 against Evangel while going 5 of 8 from the field and 6 of 9 from free throw line...second on the team with 15 blocks...missed last year after a knee injury in an exhibition game and missed 2009-10 after transferring from Boise State the year before...scored in double figures for first time with 11 points November 14 against Tabor and then added 15 against Southwestern the next time...averaging 7.3 points a game this year...as a freshman at Boise State in 2008-09 she averaged 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds a game.
#33 Tiara George • 6-1 Jr. F • Baton Rouge, La. • Angelina CC
Will have to sit out the first semester after transferring to WU midway through last year...averaged 10.1 points and 8.7 rebounds a game and shot 56 percent in 2009-10 at Angelina CC (Texas).
#42 Ashley Timm • 5-10 Fr. G • Pratt, Kan. • Skyline Hs
Had her first collegiate action November 14 against Tabor, playing four minutes without a point...has played in three games for eight total minutes with a rebound...she helped Skyline High School to a sub-state runner-up finish three straight years.
#44 Laura McMullin • 6-1 Jr. F • Sedalia, Mo. • Sacred Heart HS
Has played in 11 of 12 games and is averaging 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds...top scorer off the bench for Washburn...had a double-double November 18 against East Central with 10 points and 11 rebounds, the first double-double of the year for Washburn and second of her career...scored 11 points in opener against CSUDH off 5 of 7 shooting...also had six rebounds that game...shooting 49 percent from the field this year...averaged 2.7 points and 4.0 rebounds last year off the bench.