TOPEKA, Kan. --- After a 12-day break, Washburn will close the calendar with action on Saturday, Dec. 30 as it welcomes non-conference opponent Benedictine to Lee Arena. The Ichabods are riding a four-game win streak and entered the holiday break at 10-1, the best record since 2005-06 team which was 11-0. Tip-off is slated for 4 pm.
SCOUTING THE RAVENS
• Benedictine is 11-2 overall, 2-1 in conference play with have victories in their last four outings.
• The Ravens rank among the NAIA's top 25 in several categories including blocks (11th/43), scoring offense (11th), steals (12th), turnover margin (15th/+4.8), blocks/game (19th/3.3), scoring offense per game (22nd/76.7), assist-turnover ratio (24th/0.932) and free throw shooting (25th/.702).
• Individually, Kristen Murphy is a do-it-all forward as she leads the Ravens in points (15.3/game), assists (3.2/game) and steals (2.2/game). Murphy's 199 total points this season is 18th-best on the NAIA charts.
• Lexie Villegas is the team's top rebounder with 8.2/game, 35th in Division I NAIA.
• Serena Parker is a defensive force for BU as she ranks eighth in the NAIA in total blocks (23) while her 1.8 blocks/game is 11th overall.
• Nine of Benedictine's 14 players this season are classified as underclassmen including five freshmen. Brynn Maul leads the freshmen core having started 8-of-13 games with 6.2 points/game while averaging 22.8 minutes.
• Benedictine is led by head coach Chad Folsom who is in his 17th season, having spent all with the program. Folsom's all-time record at the start of the season was 360-166.
• The Ravens went 25-9 last season with a 22-4 tally in league play and an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
THEY GOT SOME HISTORY
This will be the 43rd meeting all-time with Washburn leading the series 35-7 including a 24-win streak. The Ichabods are 24-4 against Benedictine at home. In the last five meetings, Washburn has won by an average of 32 points.
FINDING A WAY
The Ichabods are 4-0 this season in games decided by three points or less and have overcome varying deficits with five minutes left in regulation on three occasions. Washburn has seen overtime action once this season, a 78-67 win against UMary (11/11/17).
BEHIND THE LINE PLEASE
Since opening conference play the Ichabods have not shot less than 80 percent from the line and have twice reached a season-high of 87.5 percent. In four games, Washburn has shot 84.9 percent (45-of-53) while having increased its FT percentage 4.6 points, from 67.8 percent to its current mark of 72.8. Despite their improves from the line, the Ichabods seventh in MIAA in FT percentage and listed 100th in Division II.
FIVE GOOD MINUTES
In the last five minutes of games this season, Washburn has outscored opponents 132-89, while averaging 12 points during that stretch. The Ichabods are shooting .436 from the floor, .424 from long range and have converted 50-of-72 (.694) from the line. Opponents meanwhile are .381 from the field, .231 from three-point land and 16-of-34 (.471) from the charity stripe.
STARTING FIVE
The Ichabods have used three different starting lineups this season. As a group, Washburn starters average 70.6 points/game while outscoring opponents, 777-627. The starting five is shooting .443 from the floor, .364 from behind the arc and .724 (144-199) from the line.
AWAY FROM LEE ARENA
The Ichabods are 4-1 this season playing at either a neutral or road court. The lone loss came on the road when the team faced Newman on Nov. 28. In its three true road tilts this season, Washburn is shooting .421 from the field, .419 from three-point land and .741 from the line. The Ichabods have also outscored their home opponents 56-32 in the second quarter and 51-41 in the fourth, while conceding the opening period of each half (48-40 in Q1, 58-45 in Q3).
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Under head coach Ron McHenry, Washburn is 213-44 all-time when playing at Lee Arena dating back to the 2000-01 campaign. Since opening prior to the 1984-85 season, Washburn has complied an impressive 407-89 all-time record at Lee Arena.
AN ICHABOD WIN...
• is better than a lose.
• pushes Washburn to 11-1 overall
• gives Ron McHenry 417 career wins, 14 shy of tying Patty Dick's Washburn record (431).
ON THIS DATE
Washburn is 7-4 all-time when playing the day before New Year's Eve with a 5-1 mark since the 2000-01 season. The Ichabods' first game on Dec. 30 however didn't occur until the 1992-93 campaign when the program under head coach Patty Dick went to California where they downed Cal State-Stanislaus, 82-58.
IF YOU REMEMBER...
The Ichabods picked up their fourth victory on Dec. 18 with a 66-58 road win over a pesky Lincoln team. Axelle Bernard and Reagan Phelan each finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Alexis McAfee pulled down a game-best 10 boards and added eight points. Cara Donely was on-point from the line as she converted a season-best 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Washburn finished the game making 24-of-50 attempts for 48 percent from the field while converting 87.5 pe
FOLLOW THE BODS
Fans can follow the Ichabods all-season long by listening to Country 106.9 with Jake Lebahn and Dan Lucero calling the action. Live stats for all games will be made available, with conference contests being streamed through the MIAA Network. All links can be found on wusports.com/live or the women's schedule page.
WASHBURN TRADITION
The 2017-18 campaign marks the 49th season of Washburn women's basketball. The program is 881-392-1 all-time, has seen 23 seasons with at least 20 wins, and 17 appearances NCAA Division II Tournament appearances with the 2004-05 team crowned as national champions. From Jan. 26, 2005 to Mar. 11, 2006, Washburn won 51 consecutive games. The streak is the longest in NCAA Division II and sixth all-time in NCAA history.
UP NEXT
The Ichabods won't have long to celebrate the beginning of a new year as they return to Lee Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 2 for their non-conference finale against Saint Mary (Kan.). Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
