TOPEKA, Kan. --- The Ichabods open the 2018 portion of their schedule with a non-conference finale on Tuesday against the NAIA Division II member, Saint Mary (Kan.). Washburn welcomes the Spires to Lee Arena as it rides its second five-game win streak of the season, for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign. Tip-off between the Ichabods and Spires is slated for 5:30 pm.
ABOUT THE SPIRES
• The University of Saint Mary is located in Leavenworth, Kan.
• The Spires are 7-7 this season and 4-4 in the KCAC and have lost three of their last five outings, including a 79-68 loss at Newman (12/30).
• With three players averaging double-figures points, Candy De Los Reyes' 18.4/game leads the way while Ashley Hinkle (12.2) and Tiani White (10.2) follow.
• Hinkle is a threat from deep as she tops the NAIA Division II charts having completed 52.9 percent from three-point land. She also converts a team-best 90.9 percent of attempts (20-for-22) from the charity stripe.
• White's .453 shooting from the field is a team-best.
• Also nationally ranked, De Los Reyes is listed 17th in free throws percentage (.856) and 20th in points/game.
• Sierra Brown has a team-high 17 blocks this season. In the last five games, Brown is averaging 2.4 per contest. She also leads the Spires on the glass with 6.4 rebounds/games.
• Collectively, the Spires shoot .408 from the field, .365 from three-point range, and .782 from the line. With 32.3 boards/game they trail opponents -6.2 rebounds/game.
• Scoring-wise, USM averages about 71 points a game (71.4 to be exact). The Spires this season have tended to narrowly outscored opponents in the first (18.8-18.2) and third (18.2-17.5) quarters while traditionally dropping the second (18.5-15.2) and fourth (20.5-19.2) periods.
• The Spires are led by Bruce Erickson who is in his fifth season with the program and lead the team to a 19-12 last season.
THEY GOT A LIL' HISTORY
This will the sixth ever meeting between the Ichabods and Spires. Washburn dropped the series opener, 63-60, on Nov. 27, 1983, but have dominated the last four contests since including a 68-point victory (106-38) on Nov. 22, 2003. Washburn won the last meeting (11/14/2016), 89-59.
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
The Ichabods have converted at least 80 percent of attempts from the line in four of the last five contests including twice reaching a season-high of 87.5 percent. During the five game stretch Washburn has made 81.5 percent (53-of-65) from the charity stripe.
FIVE GOOD MINUTES
In the last five minutes of games this season, Washburn has outscored opponents 147-97, while averaging 12 points during that stretch. The Ichabods are shooting .460 from the floor, .421 from long range and have converted 51-of-74 (.689) from the line. Opponents meanwhile are .380 from the field, .256 from three-point land and 16-of-37 (.471) from the charity stripe.
STARTING FIVE
The Ichabods have used four different starting lineups this season with the Axelle Bernard, Reagan Phelan, Taylor Blue and Alexis McAfee being the constants in each variation. Mckenzie Loe and Denesia Smith have each earned a handful of starts thus far with Hunter Bentley and Cara Donley being part of the mix. As a collective group, the starters average 50.8 points/game while outscoring opponents, 610-519. The starting five is shooting .442 from the floor, .352 from behind the arc and .738 (107-145) from the line.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Under head coach Ron McHenry, Washburn is 214-44 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 408-89 all-time record. This season, the Ichabods are 7-0 at home and have outscored visitors, 506-368, averaging 72.3 points /game.
A WASHBURN WIN...
• is better than a lose.
• pushes the Ichabods to 12-1 overall for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• gives Ron McHenry career win No. 418, 13 shy of tying Patty Dick's Washburn record (431).
• marks the ninth consecutive time the Ichabods have won the first game of a new year.
IF YOU REMEMBER...
Washburn closed the 2017 calendar year with a 77-52 win over Benedictine four days ago on Saturday, Dec. 30. Taylor Blue's career-best 21 points was one of four Ichabods to tally double-figure points. Mackenzie Loe led the efforts in the post with a game-high 10 boards as Washburn outrebounded the Ravens, 57-36. WU trailed 19-18 after the first, but used a 17-2 run to take over and never looked back.
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
Washburn resumes league play on Saturday when it hosts rival Emporia State at 5 pm.
