Game 15 Lady Blues at Southwest Baptist
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No. 21 Washburn Lady Blues (11-3, 4-1 MIAA)
at Southwest Baptist (5-6, 1-5 MIAA)
Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Bolivar, Mo.
Arena: Meyer Sports Center (2,925)
Radio: 580 WIBW AM with Mark Elliott (play-by-play) & Jake Lebahn (color)
Video: America One (fee)
Series Record: WU leads 32-11
Last Meeting: WU 64-57 on 02/12/11 (A)
Washburn Coach Ron McHenry: 301-63 (.827) in 12th year at WU and overall
SBU Coach Todd Voss: 5-6 (.455) in 1st year at SBU and 113-38 (.748) in 5th year overall
Micro-Blogging the Blues
(Around) 140-character or less tweets highlighting the season
The Lady Blues hadn't allowed an opponent to shoot over 40 percent until UCM on Sat. They're 6th in nation and 1st in MIAA in def. FG pct. #ToughD
Washburn is 4th in FG pct (.471), 6th in def. FG pct (.322), 6th in scoring margin (+23.8), 5th in RB margin (+14.8) and 8th in assists (18.7) #Top10InNation
Tiara George is 13 for14 from the field (.929) in her 2 games and averaging 13.5 ppg #RoyalDebut
Washburn has out-rebounded its opponents in every game this year but one, the loss at Drury #HotOffTheIron
McHenry became the 37th active coach to get to 300 wins on Dec. 17 and among those coaches, he leads them all with an .827 winning pct. #300wins
The Lady Blues are averaging 22.3 turnovers a game in their three losses and just 15.1 a game in their 11 wins #KeepTheBall!
Washburn is shooting 48% overall, 56% in home games and 51% in MIAA games #SolidFromTheFloor
Washburn has scored first every game but two and led at halftime in all but three games this year #QuickStart
Stevi Schultz has moved into 2nd in career 3s at WU, now with 174 #WayDownTown
Washburn has won the last 23 out of 24 against SBU and McHenry is 23-3 against the Bearcats #SeriesDominance
Lady Blues head to Southwest Baptist looking for fourth straight road win
The Lady Blues will continue MIAA action on the road with a 5:30 p.m. MIAA game Wednesday at Southwest Baptist. The game will be carried live on AM 580 WIBW and links to live video, audio and stats are available at wusports.com.
Washburn enters the contest with an 11-3 overall record and 4-1 mark in the MIAA. The Lady Blues, ranked 21st in the December 13 coaches' poll, defeated Central Missouri 74-66 Saturday and they have won two straight overall and three straight on the road. They entered the week tied for third in the conference standings. The Bearcats are 5-6 overall and 1-5 in the league, tied for eighth. They had won two straight before a 70-67 double-overtime loss to Emporia State on Saturday.
The Lady Blues are led by junior guard
Ebonie Williams with 12.1 points a game. She was 12th in the nation shooting 59 percent from the field in the latest NCAA statistics report and she's a 53 percent shooter from 3-point range. Brittney Dukes leads the Bearcats with 14.3 a game and she shoots 45 percent.
The Lady Blues lead the all-time series against SBU 32-11 and they've won eight straight. Their last loss was in 2007-08 and they have won 23 of the last 24.
Last Time Out: Washburn 74, Central Missouri 66
WARRENSBURG, Mo. - Five Lady Blues reached double figures and No. 21 Washburn shot better than 50 percent for the third straight game in a 74-66 win at No. 22 Central Missouri Saturday afternoon.
Ebonie Williams went 6 of 10 from the field to lead Washburn with 14 points.
Stevi Schultz hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points and
Cassie Lombardino was 5 of 9 from the field for 11 points.
Laura Kinderknecht hit a pair of 3s off the bench and finished with 11 points and
Tiara George, playing her second game after sitting out over a year, went 5 for 5 for 10 points.
After making just three of their first nine free throws, the Lady Blues drained their final nine, all in the final 5:24 of the game, to hold off the Jennies.
The Lady Blues led by as much as 12 in the first half but after five ties, including one at 37-37 at halftime, the Jennies took their first lead with a lay-up from Renae Shippy to open the second half. There were five more ties in the second half and UCM never led by more than four.
The Jennies (8-4, 2-4 MIAA) built a 43-39 in the opening minutes of the second half but Washburn went on a 7-0 run that was capped by Moeller's first 3-pointer of the year, giving Washburn a 46-43 lead at 16:32.
The final tie, at 58-58, was broken by a pair of free throws from Williams, the first two of nine straight makes for WU. Taylor Hansen hit a 3-pointer to give the Jennies a 61-60 lead before Williams' jumper gave Washburn the lead for good at 62-61. Schultz hit a 3-pointer after that and then a basket and free throw from Kinderknecht put Washburn up by six.
Kinderknecht's free throws with 39 seconds remaining put Washburn up by eight and made her the fifth player to reach double figures.
Washburn shot 57 percent in the game and is now shooting 50 percent in five MIAA games. The Jennies became the first team to shoot 40 percent or better against Washburn this year with a 47 percent effort. Washburn made 6 of 15 3-pointers and the Jennies made 9 of 18. Washburn led the rebound battle 33-19 but committed 15 turnovers to UCM's nine.
Moeller led Washburn with 10 rebounds, reaching double figures for the second straight time and seventh this season.
The Lady Blues opened the game on fire and quickly built a double-digit lead. They made nine of their first 11 shots and led 21-11 at the 12:32 mark of the first half. The Jennies were shooting just 3 of 12 at that point but they held on and used an 11-1 run to tie the score at 33-33 at the 2:49 mark.
Washburn went 3:38 without a field goal during the Jennies' streak and ended the half shooting 15 of 26 (.577) and the Jennies shot 13 of 28 (.464). Williams went 4 for 5 from the field to lead Washburn with eight points in the first half. Schultz, Kinderknecht and George each had six.
Four Jennies finished the game in double figures. Saraethea Brown led with 14 and she also led with four rebounds. The Jennies dropped their fourth straight MIAA game.
Final notes on the UCM game
The Lady Blues have now won seven straight against Central Missouri and are 36-13 in the series...Washburn has won four straight at UCM and haven't lost there since 2007-08...Washburn has shot at least 52 percent in each of the last three games and has broken the 50 percent mark seven times this year...the Jennies became the first team to shoot better than 40 percent against Washburn this year with a .469 effort...
Tiara George is now 13 of 14 in her first two games at Washburn.
McHenry reaches milestone 300th win
Ron McHenry began his 12th season with the Lady Blues in 2011-12 and his 87-63 win on December 17 against Missouri Western game him the 300th win in his career, all at WU. McHenry has a 301-63 (.827) record.
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. Among coaches who have at least 300 wins, only Lloyd Clark (Delta State 1984-2002) has a betting winning percentage (.834).
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, a national champion in 2004-05, 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 December 13.
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 in the previous poll 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.
Lady Blues in top 10 of several NCAA statistical categories
The Lady Blues are in the top 10 of five different statistical categories in the latest NCAA report released on December 18. Washburn was fourth with a .471 field goal percentage and sixth with a .322 field goal percentage defense. The Lady Blues were sixth with a +23.8 scoring margin and fifth with a +14.8 rebounding margin. Their 18.7 assists a game was eighth.
The Lady Blues lead the MIAA in all those categories except scoring margin. Fort Hays leads the league and was fifth in the nation with a +27.0 margin.
Washburn has shot 50 percent or better six times this year and has kept opponents from shooting better than 40 percent in every game but one this year. Central Missouri's .469 effort was the only to top .400 this year against Washburn.
The Lady Blues have out-rebounded their opponents in every game but one (at Drury on November 22).
Schultz takes over 2nd in career 3-pointers at Washburn
Senior guard
Stevi Schultz moved into second in school history, now with 174 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 shooting a career-high 41 percent from 3-point range. Schultz' 82 3-pointers last year was the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.
December 7 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 going strong 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 12.1 points a game hitting double digits in 10 of the 14 games this year. She's shooting 59 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 8.3 rebounds a game, getting to double figures seven times. She's scored in double figures four times and averages 7.2 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.
Season Flash Backs: Don't Forget...
Keeping 'em under 40: The Lady Blues kept their first 13 opponents to under 40 percent shooting. Central Missouri's .469 effort on December 31 was the first to top 40 percent.
300th win for McHenry: Lady Blues coach
Ron McHenry got his 300th career win, all at Washburn, on December 17 against Missouri Western.
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.
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 Southwest Baptist
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The 16th-ranked Lady Blues rallied in the second half to beat Southwest Baptist 64-57 on February 12, 2011, at the Meyer Sports Center. Washburn ended the game on an 18-6 run after trailing by five with under nine minutes to play in the game.
A Southwest Baptist 3-pointer ignited a 21-6 run to give the Bearcats a 48-44 lead with 10:05 to play in the game.
Raychel Boling hit a pair from the charity stripe to cut the lead to two, only to see SBU make another 3 to push the lead to 51-46 with 8:52 to play.
Washburn responded with a 10-0 run to grab a 56-51 lead with 6:17 to play in the game, but the Bearcats scored four quick points to pull back to within one at 56-55 at the 4:49 mark. Back-to-back buckets from
Cassie Lombardino pushed the lead to five with 3:43 to play in the game.
SBU cut the lead to three with 3:06 left, but would not score the rest of the way. A lay-up from
Megan Lassley pushed the lead to 62-57 with 36 seconds left and
Laura Kinderknecht hit a pair of free throws with nine ticks remaining to secure the victory.
Lombardino and
Stevi Schultz led Washburn with 17 points apiece and Schultz added 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Kinderknecht chipped in 11 points and
Alyssa Mullen pulled down a game-high 11 boards.
The Lady Blues shot 44 percent (22 of 50) from the field and were 33.3 percent (9 of 27) from behind the 3-point line. WU shot 11 of 14 from the free throw line for 78.6 percent and out-rebounded the Bearcats 40-30.
Ashleigh Gallio led Southwest Baptist with 13 points, while Courtney Heady and Whitney Malone chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Bearcats shot 33.3 percent
Up next for the Lady Blues
The Lady Blues will return home to host Missouri Southern Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Lee Arena. They'll return to road action January 11 at Pittsburg State in a 5:30 p.m. 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 seven total..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 14 games...averaging 1.6 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 nine games this year...had her first points of year with season-high four November 14 against Tabor...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 14 games this year...averaging 4.0 points and 1.4 rebounds a game off the bench...averaging 1.6 assists a game...had season-high 11 points December 31 at Central Missouri with five points in the final two minutes to help to an eight-point win...also matched 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 in 10 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 nine 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
Has played in two games this year with three rebounds in six minutes...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 14...averaging 4.9 points, 1.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds...since moving to non-starting role in last six games, has gone 12 of 16 (.750) and is averaging 5.8 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 and matched that December 17 against MWSU...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 nine of 13 games this year and three straight...averaging 10.6 points a game...averaging 5.2 rebounds and team-high 1.6 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 six straight...shot 5 of 6 November 14 against Tabor for 14 points, one off her career high...scoring 4.2 points with 1.9 rebounds and 1.9 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 10 games...averaging 3.9 points and 2.2 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 14 games...shooting 59 percent this year, which was second best in the MIAA and 12th in the nation in most recent reports, and 53 percent from 3-point range...has scored in double figures in 10 of her 14 games this year...leads Washburn with 12.1 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 174...had first double-double of the year with 12 points and 13 rebounds at FHSU on December 7...has reached double figures in 10 of 14 games...second on team with 11.5 points a game while averaging 3.1 assists (eighth in MIAA) and 4.7 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
Reached double figures for second time this year on December 17 against Missouri Western with 11 points...went 4 of 5 from the field that game...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 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds...shooting 54 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 14 games in her Washburn debut after sitting out two straight years...leading the team with 8.3 rebounds a game getting double figures seven 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 7.4 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
Played her first game in over a year on December 17 against Missouri Western...went 8 of 9 from the field for game-high 17 points...her second game, Saturday a UCM, she went 5 for 5 for 10 points...is 13 of 14 (.929) in her first two games...transferred to Washburn midway though last year after playing junior college from 2008-09 to 2009-10...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 12 of 14 games and is averaging 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds...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.
