TOPEKA, Kan. --- Washburn continues with its conference slate on Saturday evening when Nebraska-Kearney visits Lee Arena for a 5 pm tip-off. During the game, representatives from Washburn University will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. For more information regarding donations, please visit the Topeka Toys for Toys website.

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
•  UNK is 8-1 on the season and is coming off a 85-64 loss at Emporia State on Thursday, which snapped an eight-game wins streak. The Lopers at 2-1 in league play.
• UNK's lone road victory was a 82-75 decision over Chadron State (11/21).
• UNK Offense: seventh in MIAA in scoring with 74.7 points/game ... eighth in MIAA in shooting (.418) ... 10th in the league from distance (.317) ... fourth in conference from the line (.767).
• UNK Defense: eighth in MIAA is scoring defense (64.9/game) ... opponents complete 39.5 percent of attempts from the field (ninth in MIAA) ... league's fifth-best 3PT FG percentage against (.285).
• The Lopers top the MIAA's defensive rebounds chart (30.2/game) while being listed fourth in rebounds/game (42.0).
• Alyssa Frauendorfer (15.6) and Michaela Barry (15.4) pace the Loper offense as each averages better than 15 points/game and are among the MIAA's leaders at fifth and seventh respectively. McKenzie Brown is third on the team with 12.0 points/contest.
• Barry has a team-high 12 steals. Brown the team leader in rebounds (6.3/game). Frauendorfer is shooting a team-high .421 from the field and averages 30.6 mins/game.
• The Lopers have been pushed to three overtimes (Newman, Pitt State, Missouri Southern) during their first eight games.
• Head coach Carrie Eighmey entered her fourth season with the Lopers with 28-30 record. 
• UNK finished last season 12-16 overall with an 8-11 mark in the league.

THEY GOT HISTORY
Saturday will be the 39th meeting with Washburn leading the all-time series, 26-12. The Ichabods is 12-6 against UNK at home. Washburn has won the last five meetings including a season series sweep in 2016-17. 

FIVE GOOD MINUTES
In the last five minutes of games this season, Washburn has outscored opponents 98-64, while averaging 12.3 points during that stretch. The Ichabods are shooting .415 from the floor, .393 from long range and have converted 33-of-50 (.660) from the line. Opponents meanwhile are .354 from the field, .161 from three-point land and 13-of-28 (.464) from the charity stripe. 

STARTING FIVE
The Ichabods have three different starting lineups this season. As a group, Washburn starters average 50.9 points/game while outscoring opponents, 407-347. The starting five is shooting .440 from the floor, .358 from behind the arc and .702 from the line. 

A WIN...
...is better than a lose.
...pushes Washburn to 8-1 and gives Ron McHenry 414 career wins. 
...matches Washburn's best start since the 2014-15 season.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Under head coach Ron McHenry, Washburn is 212-44 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 406-89 all-time record at Lee Arena.

ON THIS DATE
Washburn is 9-2 all-time when playing on Dec. 9, though is the first time it'll be playing on that date since the 2006-07 campaign when fell to Missouri Western, 76-68. 

WEEKLY WRAP-UP
Washburn slipped past Fort Hays State on Wednesday, 62-59, as the Ichabods opened their conference schedule. Washburn trailed by as much as 14 points early into the third. Reagan Phelan and Alexis McAfee helped fuel the comeback as the duo combined for 27 of the team's 38 points in the second half. McAfee finished with game-highs in points (18) and rebounds (7) while Phelan followed netting 17 points and pulling down five boards. Mackenzie Loe led all players off the bench in scoring with 15 points.

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.

MIAA PRESEASON POLL
Washburn was projected to finish eighth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.  Central Missouri topped the listed with seven first-place votes. Last season's regular-season champion Pittsburg State garnered four first-place nods as it was placed second. Tournament champion Emporia State was picked third as it received two first-place votes. Central Oklahoma took fourth with one first-place vote, while Fort Hays State rounded out the top five. Missouri Western and Lindenwood were each predicted higher than the Ichabods, taking sixth and seventh respectively. Southwest Baptist and Nebraska-Kearney trailed accordingly with Missouri Southern at No. 11. Northwest Missouri landed at No. 12 with Northeastern State and Lincoln taking the final two spots.

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
Washburn continues with conference play next weekend when it heads to the Show Me State for games against Lindenwood and Lincoln before the holiday break. For times, links and more visit wusports.com/live.