Complete Game Notes (pdf)
No. 7 Washburn (6-0, 0-0 MIAA) vs Southwest Baptist (3-2, 0-0 MIAA)Thursday, December 4, 2014 • 5:30 p.m.
Lee Arena
Topeka, Kan.
Radio: 580 AM WIBW
WUSports.com/Live: Video | Audio | Stats
Micro-Blogging the Bods
The Ichabods will open MIAA play Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against Southwest Baptist on Schendel Court in Lee Arena. WU is 18-7 all-time in MIAA openers and has won seven straight.
The Ichabods are seventh in this week's national poll. They were 18th last week and returned to the top 10 for the first time since the final week of 2012-13.
The Ichabods improved to 6-0 with a 75-47 win Saturday at Newman. Washburn's six non-conference wins to start the season include five against NCAA II opponents.
The Ichabods lead the series with SBU 36-12. The Bearcats beat Washburn 85-73 last year in the MIAA tournament first round to end a 12-game skid against WU in the series.
Taylor Ignoto leads the Ichabods scoring 16.5 points a game. She's scored in double figures in all six and has 20 or more in the last three. She shoots 54 percent from the field.
Ignoto was named MIAA player of the week after averaging 20.5 points a game and shooting 72 percent from the field. She scored 30 points in the first half of last week's two games.
Casyn Buchman is averaging 13.8 points a game and 6.0 rebounds a game.
Dana Channel leads the team with 7.2 rebounds a game.
The Bods are third in the nation with a +20.5 rebounding margin, fifth holding opponents to .292 shooting and sixth holding opponents to just 50.8 points a game.
Washburn has held its opponents to less than 50 points in four of the six games this year.
Ron McHenry is in his 15th season as coach. He has gone 364-82 since 2000 and has won eight MIAA titles with 12 NCAA tournament appearances. He coached the team to the 2004-05 national championship.
Bods welcome SBU to Lee Arena Thursday to open MIAA seasonThe MIAA season will get underway Thursday as the seventh-ranked Ichabods host Southwest Baptist at 5:30 p.m. at Schendel Court in Lee Arena.
The games can be heard on 580 AM WIBW with Jake Lebahn and Pat Strathman calling the action. Links to free live video, audio and stats are available at wusports.com/live. Tickets can be purchased at wutickets.com, by calling 785-670-BODS or by visiting the Washburn ticket office in Petro Room 200 on the Washburn campus.
The Ichabods improved to 6-0 with a 75-47 win at Newman Saturday.
Taylor Ignoto got her third straight 20-point game in the process and was named MIAA athlete of the week.
The Bearcats have won three straight games to move to 3-2. They beat McKendree, 54-43 on Saturday and have played all NCAA II opponents.
The Ichabods and Bearcats met in Topeka in the first round of the MIAA tournament last year. SBU won the game 85-73 to end a 12-game winning streak for Washburn in the series between the two schools. Washburn leads that series 36-12.
Pair of 20-point games helps Ignoto to MIAA athlete of the week honorSenior guard
Taylor Ignoto hit the 20-point mark twice last week and her quick starts in the Ichabods two games helped them to easy wins on the road. Ignoto averaged 20.5 points and shot 72 percent (13 of 18) from the field in the two games. She also made 6 of 10 3-point attempts and averaged 4.5 rebounds a game.
She helped WU jump out to quick leads in both games as she averaged 15.0 points a game in the first half alone in both games. She went 7 of 8 from the field at Oklahoma Christian Tuesday and made all three 3-pointers. She was 6 of 10 Saturday at Newman.
Ichabods near the top in several national and MIAA defensive categoriesThe Ichabods enter the fourth week of the season at or near the top in several MIAA and NCAA defensive categories. They're sixth in the nation and second in scoring defense allowing 50.8 points a game. They've allowed more than 50 points just twice this year. Washburn is third in the country and first in the MIAA with a +20.5 rebounding margin. The Bods are fifth in the nation and first in the league allowing opponents to shoot just .292 from the field.
Casyn Buchman is first in the MIAA and 32nd in the nation shooting .917 from the free throw line.
Dana Channel is 11th in the MIAA averaging 7.2 rebounds a game and
Taylor Ignoto is eighth in the conference scoring 16.5 points a game.
Junior achievementThe seven juniors on the 2013-14 team accounted for 81 percent of Washburn's scoring and 79 percent of Washburn's individual rebounding. Six of those seven juniors are back this year as seniors.
All four of Washburn's double-figure scorers from last year came from the group, as did the top three rebounders. At least one junior led the team in scoring every game and in rebounding in all but two games.
Coaches pick Bods third in MIAA preseason poll; WU earns three first-place votesThe Ichabods earned three first-place votes and were picked to finish third overall in the MIAA preseason coaches poll released October 22.
Washburn had 142 points in the poll while No. 2 Pittsburg State earned 153 points and five of the 14 first-place votes. Emporia State earned 160 points and five first-place votes and was picked to win the conference. Fort Hays State was picked fourth with the final first-place vote and defending champion Central Missouri was picked fifth.
Don't forget - Season highlightsWashburn's 93-35 win Nov. 16 against PR-Rio Piedras was the school's second largest against an NCAA school. The 62 rebounds was the largest against an NCAA school.
WU outscored Benedictine 48-4 in the paint on Nov. 18.
The Ichabods trailed the entire second half Nov. 22 against Drury but
Casyn Buchman's free throw in the final seconds sent the game to overtime. She then scored 10 points in the overtime to help WU knock off then-No. 3 Drury, 87-79. She had a career-high 28 points.
Washburn was unranked in the USA Today Sports preseason poll but earned a No. 18 ranking in the first regular season poll of the year.
Up next for WashburnMIAA action at Lee Arena continues as Washburn hosts Missouri Southern Saturday at 5 p.m. The Lions enter the week leading the nation holding opponents to 44.3 points a game. Washburn is sixth allowing 50.8 a game. Washburn last the only game between the two last year, 68-59 in Joplin.
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