TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn resumes conference action in style on Saturday, Jan. 6 as it hosts rival Emporia State at 5 pm. The Ichabods are 12-1 on the season and have opened MIAA play at 4-0.
ABOUT EMPORIA STATE
• The Lady Hornets comes to Lee Arena at 8-3 overall and carrying a 3-1 mark in MIAA action.
• Emporia State is 4-1 in its last five games and are coming off an 82-75 overtime win against Pitt State.
• ESU's loses this season are against Southwestern Oklahoma State (88-76), at Newman (74-66) and at Lindenwood (93-72).
• The Lady Hornets will be without Krystie Miller, Addie Lackey and Daley Handy due to season-ending injuries.
• Tyra Jones leads ESU on both ends of the court. Offensively, Jones is the nation's leader in FG% (74.7) while her 15.9 points/game is third-best in the MIAA. Defensively, the junior ranks sixth in the conference in blocks/game (1.4) and seventh in rebounds/game (8.4).
• Emily Miller is a threat from the outside as the she's shooting an MIAA-best 50 percent (23-of-46) from three-point range while making 46.2 percent from the field and averaging 13.5/contest.
• Jacee Kramer and Morgan Laudan have also been vital to the offense as the duo are tied for the team lead in assists (2.5/game). Scoring-wise, Kramer's 10.8 points/game is third-best on the team while Lauden follows with 8.5.
• Kramer (.857) and Marissa Preston (.800) are the only Lady Hornets converting 80 percent or better from the line.
• Collectively, Emporia State are listed among the nation's best in blocks/game (10th/5.5), offensive rebounds/game (14th/16), 3PT% (19th/37.8) and rebound margin (28th/7.7).
• The Lady Hornets however are among the conference's most fouled teams, averaging 20.5/game while surrendering the most points in the league (72.4/game) as opponents are shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 65.9 from long range.
• Emporia State is led by head coach Jory Collins who's in seventh season. Collins is 190-50 all-time. The 2016-17 Lady Hornets finished 29-5 overall, 15-4 in the MIAA and secured the second-seed of the MIAA Tournament which they won.
IF THEY PLAYED ONCE, THEY'LL PLAY 100 TIMES
Saturday's clash with the Lady Hornets will mark the 100th all-time meeting. Despite that fun fact, the Ichabods trail the series 44-55, with a 21-27 mark at home. Washburn has struggled against its rival of late, losing its last 11 outings as its last win over Emporia State, being a 79-68 decision at home on Jan. 2, 2013.
THE LAST SIX GAMES...
• Washburn is averaging just under 71 points/game (70.5) while opponents register just under 55 (54.7) during the stretch.
• Washburn is shooting .444 from the field, .326 from long range and .802 from the line while opponents are shooting .346, including .277 from deep and .623 from the line.
• On the boards, Ichabods are out rebounding opponents by 7.3/night as they pull down 40/game.
• Five Ichabods are shooting .833 or better from the line - Alexis McAfee, 1.000 (12-12); Reagan Phelan, .864 (19-22); Cara Donley, .857 (12-24); Taylor Blue and Axelle Bernard, .833 (5-6).
• Alexis McAfee is averaging 10.7 points and 6.7 boards with .333 shooting from distance.
• Axelle Bernard is averaging eight rebounds, 10 points, three assists and 2.2 blocks.
• Reagan Phelan is averaging 12.3 points with 1.5 steals, 2.5 assists, 3.8 boards.
• Taylor Blue averages 9.7 points and two boards, while shooting .429 from behind the arc.
• Mackenzie Loe is providing depth from bench averaging 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds with 1.5 steals and 1.5 assists per game.
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 six contests including twice reaching a season-high of 87.5 percent. During the six game stretch Washburn has made 80.2 percent (65-of-81) from the charity stripe. In their first four MIAA contests, the Ichabods have shot 84.9 percent (45-of-53).
FIVE GOOD MINUTES
In the last five minutes of games this season, Washburn has outscored opponents 158-115, while are averaging 12 points. The Ichabods are shooting .458 from the floor, .442 from long range and have converted 51-of-76 (.671) from the line. Opponents meanwhile are .398 from the field, .320 from three-point land and 17-of-35 (.486) 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. Mackenzie 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 just under 51 points/game (50.7) while outscoring opponents, 659-543. The starting five is shooting .448 from the floor, .337 from behind the arc and .753 (116-154) from the line.
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.
• snaps an 11-game losing streak to Emporia State.
• extends its win streak to a season-best seven games.
• pushes its to 13-1 overall, first time since 2010-11.
• moves the Ichabods to 5-0 in MIAA, first time since 2009-10.
• gives Ron McHenry career win No. 418, 13 shy of tying Patty Dick's Washburn record (431).
WHEN WE LEFT YOU LAST
The Ichabods opened 2018 in winning fashion as it trounced Saint Mary (Kan.), 80-51, in their final non-conference tilt of the season. Washburn held the Spires to single-digit points in each of the opening periods, setting a new season mark for fewest points allowed in a half (13). Axelle Bernard led the assault as she tallied her first career double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds) and was one of four Ichabods to score double-digit points as Taylor Blue (12), Alexis McAfee (11) and Cara Donley (10) each followed. Washburn controlled the boards, outrebounding USM, 47-34, and dominated scoring in the point to the tune of 42-14.
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 its five-game home stand on Thursday, Jan. 11 when Northeastern State (Okla.) comes to town with tip off slated for 5 pm.
