TIPPING OFF
• Washburn women's basketball returns to the road Thursday when it faces Nebraska-Kearney on Buckle Court at the UNK Health & Sports Center.
• The Ichabods are 14-6 overall and 6-5 in the MIAA, eighth in the conference standings.
• The Ichabods have hit a rough patch with just two wins in their last seven games.
• Reagan Phelan leads the team in scoring with 15.3 points/game and is making 40.8 percent (97-238)attempts from the field.
• On Jan. 14, Reagan Phelan become the third player in program-history to score 32 points in a single-game and first player with at least 30 in over six seasons.
• Alexis McAfee is the team leader from the charity stripe making 41 of 48 attempts (.854).
• Axelle Bernard is the team's block and rebound leader,  averaging 2.1 blocks and 8.9 boards a game.

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 loss.
• improves its record to 15-6 overall, 7-5 in the MIAA.
• stretches its win streak against UNK to seven games.
• gives head coach Ron McHenry career win number 421, making him 10 shy of tying Patty Dick for the program-record in career wins (431).

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY?
• The Ichabods are holding MIAA opponents to around 65 points per contest (65.4) and .327 shooting from three-point range.
• Phelan is WU's leading scorer in MIAA play, averaging 18.0 points/game, while shooting .424 on FGs, .413 on 3FG, and .879 on FTs with 3.0 assists per game.
• Phelan is averaging 19.2 points a game.
• Alexis McAfee is averaging 14.6 points, 2.0 assists, and 6.0 boards a contest over the last five games.
• Axelle Bernard is averaging a team-best 10.2 boards in the last five games alongside 9.4 ppg, and 2.0 blocks.
• Bernard has tallied consecutive double-doubles in each of the last three outings for the Ichabods. 
• In its last five MIAA games during the month of January, Washburn has been outscored 357-344, but has held an advantage in points in the paint (172-126), second-chance points (58-42).

JUST FIVE MINUTES
• In the last five minutes of MIAA games this season, WU is shooting .394 (28-71) on FGs, .235 (8-34) on 3FG, and .772 (44-57) on FTs.
• The Ichabods have narrowly outscored MIAA opponents, 108-93, and average 9.8 points/game.
• Alexis McAfee is 17 for 19 (.895) from the line against MIAA foes and 20 of 22 (.909) for the season.

ON THE GLASS
• For the season, Washburn has collected 795 rebounds, averaging 39.8 a game.
• Of the season total, WU has 559 offensive boards.
• The Ichabods have accounted for roughly 26 percent (209) of their season rebounds within the last five games while boasting a +52 margin over opponents (157). 
• Bernard alone has registered 51 boards.
• The Ichabods have dominated the offensive glass out rebounding opponents over the last five games, 67-42.
• Washburn is averaging 41.8 rebounds during the five game stretch.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
• WU is ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring defense (61.2 ppg) and 64th among NCAA Division II leaders. 
• The Ichabods are also listed fourth in the MIAA in FG% defense (.376). 
• WU's 8.0 steals/game is the league's sixth-best mark.
• Washburn is listed sixth in the MIAA in forced turnovers (16.3).
• Bernard is listed among the nation's top 35 in total blocks (30th, 42) and blocks/game (31st, 2.1) ... those numbers place her second-overall in the MIAA for both categories.
• Bernard is among the top 75 rebounders in Div. II, placing 70th in total rebounds (177), 75th in per game average (8.9), and 50th in defensive boards per game (7.0) ...  
• Two Ichabods are listed among the MIAA's top 15 steals leaders ... Phelan is third-overall in total (41) and per game average (2.1) ... McAfee is tied for 10th in total (31) and tied for 12th in steals/game (1.6). 

AT THE LINE
• Washburn opened the season shooting .678 from the line through the first seven games.
• Season-high mark .882 came against Nebraska Christian on Nov. 15, as WU made 15 of 17.
• In 11 MIAA games, the Ichabods' free throw percentage is .767 (132 of 172).
• In the last five games, Phelan has made 26 of 30 (.867) from the line and has converted 51 of 58 (.879) chances against MIAA opponents.
• Alexis McAfee has made 24 of 28 free throws (.857) against MIAA opponents and 41 of 48 (.854) for the season.
• Against the MIAA, Cara Donley has converted 19 of 23 (.826) attempts from the line.

THE STARTING FIVE
• The Ichabods have rolled out four different starting lineups this season with the Bernard, Phelan, McAfee and Taylor Blue being the constants in each variation.
• The collective group average just over 51 points a game (51.7) for the season and 50.9 against the MIAA
• Against the MIAA, starters are shooting .407 on FGs, .311 on 3FG, .815 on FTs.
• The group also averages 26.2 rebounds and 5.1 steals a game.
• McAfee, Phelan and Bernard are each listed among the program's top 20 in minutes per game ... McAfee is sixth, Phelan is seventh and Bernard 16th.

PLAYER NOTES
• Phelan is 62 points shy of tying Emily Shopper (1995-97) for 40th on the Washburn all-time points list with 693.
• Bernard's 42 blocks this season has the Awans, Belgium native listed 24th on WU's all-time list ... has four double-doubles this season.
• McAfee has scored double-figure points on 11 occasions this season including the last games ... is averaging 14.6 points a game during the last three outings.
• Mackenize Loe is third on the team in scoring (9.9/game) ... averages 17.1 minutes off the bench.

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 women's basketball 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 8-4 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 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
• The Lopers are 16-3 on the year and 8-3 in the MIAA where they are for third with Central Oklahoma.
• UNK is currently riding a five-game win streak.
• Michaela Barry leads UNK in scoring (18.2 ppg), steals (29), FT% (.863).
• McKenzie Brown is the team leader in rebounds (6.6/game) while sitting second in scoring (12.5).
• UNK is coached by Carrie Eighmey who's in her third season with the Lopers.

A LIL' BIT OF HISTORY
• Thursday will be the 40th meeting all-time between Washburn and Nebraska-Kearney.
• The Ichabods lead the all-time series, 27-12 and are riding a six-game win streak against UNK.
• Since joining the MIAA, Washburn is13-6 when facing UNK in Topeka.
• In Kearney, Washburn is 14-6 all-time.
• WU swept the season series in 2016-17.
• The Ichabods won the season series opener on Dec. 9 at Lee Arena, 57-39.

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
• Away at Fort Hays State (Saturday, Feb. 3, 2 pm)