TOPEKA, Kan. --- Washburn (12-4, 4-3 MIAA) looks to snap a three-game slide Wednesday as it returns to the road for the first time in nearly a month with a trip to Joplin as it faces  Missouri Southern at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 pm. 

FOLLOW THE BODS
Jake Lebahn (play-by-play) and Dan Lucero (analyst) will call the action and can be heard on the MIAA Network and Country 106.9 FM. Links for stats, video and radio can be found at wusports.com/live or the women's basketball schedule page.

A WASHBURN WIN...
• is better than a lose.
• ends a season worst three-game slide and pushes itself to 13-4 overall.
• moves the Ichabods to 5-3 in the MIAA.
• gives head coach Ron McHenry career win No. 418.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY?
• The Ichabods are holding MIAA opponents to around 60 points per contest (60.6) and .312 shooting from three-point range.
• After opening the season with .678 shooting from the line through the first seven games, Washburn has raised its free throw percentage to .781 in six MIAA games making 82 of 105 attempts.
• Reagan Phelan is WU's leading scorer in MIAA play, averaging 16.4 points/game, while shooting .438 (39-89) on FGs, .400 (10-25) on 3FG, and .900 (27-30) on FTs.
• Alexis McAfee has made a team-best 14 of 15 free throws (.933) against MIAA opponents and 5 for 5 (1.000) in the last five games. 
• Axelle Bernard is averaging a team-best 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in MIAA play. 
• Washburn is averaging a slim advantage against the MIAA in points in the paint (29.1-23.7) though is nearly level in turnover points (15.4-15.0) and second-chance points (7.0-6.7).

JUST FIVE MINUTES
• In the last five minutes of MIAA games this season, Washburn is shooting .417 (15-36) on FGs, .368 (7-19) on 3FG, and .818 (27-33) on FTs.
• The Ichabods have narrowly outscored MIAA opponents, 64-63, and averages 9.1/game.
• Alexis McAfee is 13 for 13 (1.000) from the line against MIAA foes.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
• Washburn is listed fourth in the MIAA in scoring defense (58.1 ppg) and third in FG% defense (.361), and sixth in 3FG% defense (.287). 
• The Ichabods' 8.9 steals a contest is fourth-best in the MIAA.
• Bernard's 2.1 blocks a game is second in the MIAA.
• Three Ichabods are among the MIAA's top 20 in steals with Phelan (3rd) leading the way with 2.3 a game while McAfee (9th/1.7) and Denesia Smith (t-18th/1.3) follow.

MILESTONES, RECORDS & OTHER NOTABLES
• Reagan Phelan is 33 points shy of tying Stacy Neal's (1994-96) of 568 for 50th on the Washburn all-time points list.
• Phelan is 22 FGs shy of tying Ebonie Williams' (2011-12) mark of 197 for 50th on the career charts.
• Head coach Ron McHenry is 15 victories shy of surpassing Patty Dick's Washburn win record of 431

THE STARTING FIVE
• The Ichabods have rolled out four different starting lineups this season with the Axelle Bernard, Reagan Phelan, Taylor Blue and Alexis McAfee being the constants in each variation.
• The collective group average just under 50 points a game (49.3) for the season and 45.1 against MIAA opponents.
• Starters are shooting .426 on FGs, .335 on 3FG, .755 on FTs.
• The group also averages 25.0 rebounds and has accounted for 159 of WU's 240 assists.

AWAY FROM HOME
• The Ichabods are 4-1 this season when not playing at Lee Arena, including a 2-1 mark in true road contests.
• Washburn is shooting .424 on FGs, .395 on 3FGs, and .713 on FTs, while holding opponents to .388 on FGs and .297 on 3FGs as they convert .675 on FTs.
• In their two MIAA road games, the Ichabods are 2-0 and shooting .490 (51-104) on FGs, .407 (11-27) on 3FGs, and .850 (34-40) on FTs.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
• This is the 34th season that Washburn men's and women's basketball have called Lee Arena home, with the Lady Blues/Ichabods owning a 409-92 mark (.818) in the venue.
• The 500th women's game at Lee Arena was played last Thursday (1/11/18) vs Northeastern State.
• Under head coach Ron McHenry, Washburn is 215-45 all-time when playing at Lee Arena dating back to the 2000-01 campaign. 
• Washburn is 8-3 this season playing at Lee Arena.
• WU ranked sixth in Div. II in attendance last season as it averaged 1,468 fans through 18 games. The Ichabods have been among nation's top drawing teams finishing in the top 10 since the 2000-01 campaign.

ABOUT MISSOURI SOUTHERN
• The Lions are 9-7 overall, 6-2 in league play.
• Missouri Southern opened the year at 1-7 but currently riding an eight-game win streak since Dec. 9.
• Against the MIAA, MSSU is shooting .456 on FGs, .369 on 3FGs, and .803 on FTs, while holding opponents to .427 on FGs and .280 on 3FGs, while they convert .712 on FTs.
• Through eight MIAA games, the Lions are out rebounding foes, 286-271 and average 35.8 boards per game.  
• MSSU is among Div. II's best FT shooting teams as it ranks sixth in made FTs (228), 17th in FT% (.780) and 30th in FT attempts (369).
• Amongst the MIAA, MSSU listed seventh in scoring offense (74.3/game), 11th in scoring defense (70.1/game) and rebounds per game (36.3), 12th in turnovers per game (16.3) and 13th in steals per game (5.8).
• MSSU has four players averaging double-figure points in MIAA action with Desirea Buerge leading the way with 21.3 ppg, while Chelsey Henry (18.3), Dru Clark (11.1) and Jenson Maydew (10.1) follow. 
• Buerge is shooting a team-best .535 (54-101) on FGs and averaging 8.3 boards against the MIAA competition.
• Henry, the reigning MIAA Player of the Week, is shooting .929 from the line during league play while averaging 1.4 assists.
• Through eight MIAA contests this season, Clark is averaging 2.9 assists while she and Julianna Wadsworth are team co-leaders with 10 steals apiece.

A LIL' BIT OF HISTORY
• Wednesday will be the 77th meeting all-time with the series dating back to Feb. 2, 1971.
• The Ichabods lead the all-time series, 47-29.
• WU is 16-7 when facing MSSU in Joplin with its last trip being Dec. 12, 2015 (W, 64-42)
• In the last five meetings, Washburn is 2-3 including a 70-62 victory at Lee Arena last season.

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.

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.

UPCOMING ON THE SCHEDULE
• At Pittsburg State (Jan. 20, 1:30 pm)
• Home vs. Southwest Baptist (Jan. 24, 5:30 pm) -- 90's Night
• Home vs. No. 12/10 Central Missouri (Jan. 27, 1 pm) -- Pink Night