TOPEKA, Kan. --- The Washburn women's basketball team returns to action on Thursday, as Northeastern State (Okla.) comes to Topeka for an MIAA match-up. The Ichabods (12-2, 4-1 MIAA) will look get back into the win column after falling to Emporia State which snapped their six-game game win streak.

ABOUT NORTHEASTERN STATE
• The Riverhawks come to Lee Arena with a 7-6 overall record, 3-3 in MIAA play.
• Northeastern State is 3-2 in its last five outings and are coming off a 69-58 win over Lincoln on Jan. 6.
• NSU is averaging 66.8 points/game, narrowly outscoring opponents by +1.0.
• NSU is 41st in the nation in blocks (4.3/game) and 40th in three-point FG defense as opponents are shooting .268 from deep.
• The Riverhawks are listed in the bottom of the conference in rebounds/game (7th/40.2), FG% (11th/40.7), FT% (12th/66.7), turnover margin (13th/-2.54), while ranking in the top half in fouls against (5th), turnovers (6th/197) and 3PT shooting (6th/.336).
• NSU has three players averaging double-figure points -- Cailyn Long (12), Destiny Strange (11.1) and Lauryn Blevins (10.1), while Cenia Hayes on the cusp with 9.8/game.
• Long (Jr./F) is fourth in the MIAA, 53rd nationally, from three-point distance shooting 41.6 percent ... averaging .355 from deep in last five games ... had 29 points in last trip to Lee Arena (2/25/17).
• Strange (Sr./F) hasn't played since 12/5.
• Blevins (RS-F/C) has nine appearances, zero starts ... averaging 9.2 points in last five games while shooting .500 from the field.
• Joi Bertrand (Jr./C) fourth-best block average (1.6) in MIAA ... has started 9-of-13 games ... averaging 4.4 rebounds. 
• Head coach Fala Bullock is in her first season with NSU but played for predecessor Randy Gipson from 2004-06 ... previously at Armstrong State (Ga.) for four season where she went 98-74 overall, led Pirates to Sweet 16 in her first season.
• The Riverhawks went 6-21 (2-17 MIAA) last season.

THEY GOT SOME HISTORY
Thursday's match-up will be the 12th all-time meeting with Washburn leading the series, 7-4. The Ichabods have been named victors in their last four meetings and are 4-1 when hosting the Riverhawks at Lee Arena. The series with Northeastern State

LAST TIME OUT
Washburn fell to rival Emporia State, 70-62, last Saturday at Lee Arena, ending the Ichabods four-game win streak to start conference play. Loe came of the bench to net a game-high 21 points. Bernard and Phelan each finished with 12, while McAfee tallied 11 points. Washburn led at the half, 38-32, after trailing the Lady Hornets, 19-15 at the half. The Ichabods struggled to hit shots in the second half as they completed 9-of-27 from the field and were outscored in the fourth, 19-9.

LAST TIME AGAINST NORTHEASTERN STATE -- Feb. 25, 2017
In their last meeting, Washburn defeated NSU, 81-69, in the 2016-17 season finale, ending a then three-game slide. The Ichabods took a double-figure lead early into the second period as they used a 7-0 spurt to claim a 22-12 advantage. The Riverhawks narrowed the lead to 23-21 midway through thanks to a 9-1 run. That however was the closest NSU came as a 7-0 sprint before the end of the half to extend Washburn's margin to 37-25 as it went into the break. Washburn used a 11-point run in the third to claim its largest lead, 52-32. In the fourth, the teams combined for 51 points as NSU edged out WU, 26-25 for the quarter as both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field. Washburn finished with five in double-figures with Bowen's 21 leading the way. 

BEHIND THE LINE PLEASE: MIAA EDITION
• In their last five games against MIAA opponents, Washburn is shooting .838 from the line.
• The Ichabods are shooting .828 (24-of-29) during the final five minutes of play.
• Alexis McAfee leads the way as she's been perfect from charity stripe, with all 11 of her attempts coming during the final five minutes of regulation.
• Cara Donley is shooting .917 (11-12).
• Reagan Phelan is averaging .909 during that span as she's made 20 of 22.
• Opponent's average .641 from the line for the game, but dips to .500 during the last five minutes.

FIVE GOOD MINUTES
In the last five minutes of games this season, Washburn has outscored opponents 163-126, while are averaging just under 12 points (11.6). The Ichabods are shooting .446 from the floor, .404 from long range and have converted just under 70 percent (68.4) from the line. Opponents meanwhile are .415 from the field, .333 from three-point land and .488 from the stripe.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Under head coach Ron McHenry, Washburn is 215-44 all-time when playing at Lee Arena dating back to the 2000-01 campaign. Since the arena opened prior to the 1984-85 season, Washburn has complied an impressive 409-89 all-time record. This season, the Ichabods are 8-0 at home and have outscored visitors, 586-419, averaging 73.2 points /game. 

A WASHBURN WIN...
• is better than a lose.
• extends its win streak over NSU to five games. 
• pushes itself to 13-2 overall.
• moves the Ichabods to 4-1, first time since 2012-13.
• gives Ron McHenry career win No. 418, 13 shy of tying Patty Dick's Washburn record (431). 

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 closes its five-game home stand on Saturday, Jan. 13 when it welcomes Central Oklahoma for a 1 pm start. The first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive a FREE t-shirt provided by Hy-Vee Topeka. 

MCHENRY MONTHLY BREAKDOWN