THE TIP-OFF
Washburn (13-5, 8-1 MIAA) return home Thursday when it hosts Lincoln (9-9, 1-8 MIAA) at Lee Arena. The MIAA matchup is slated for a 5:30 pm start and will be the first of two meetings of the year. Thursday evening's contest will be Washburn seventh game this season against a Missouri-based opponent, with the Ichabods holding a favorable 6-1 record. 

The first 750 fans to attend Thursday's game will receive a FREE t-shirt courtesy of Stromont Vail.

Thursday's game will be streamed online through The MIAA Network (themiaanetwork.com/washburnichabods) or on The MIAA Network app available on Apple TV, Roku and GooglePlay. The contest can also be heard by turning your radio dial to KTPK 106.9 FM in Topeka or by visiting wusports.com/live for a streamed link for those outside the Topeka area. Jake Lebahn (play-by-play) and Dan Lucero (commentary) will call the action with the pregame show starting 20 minutes prior to tip-off.

THEY GOT HISTORY
» Thursday will be the 28th meeting all-time.
» Washburn leads the series, 27-0, and is 13-0 against Lincoln in Topeka.
» Washburn last home win against Lincoln was Dec. 17, 2016 (77-66).
» For Washburn head coach Ron McHenry this will be his 13th time facing the Blue Tigers since the 2006-07 season. 
» The series began Dec. 12, 1980 at a tournament hosted by Midland Lutheran in Fremont, Neb. The series has been paused three times, first, 1980 to 1989, then from 1999 to 2006 before returning yearly play during the 2010-11 season. 

PREVIEWING LINCOLN
» The Blue Tigers started the season with a seven-game win streak but have since dropped nine of their last 11 games, as they visit Topeka 9-9 on the year and 1-8 in league play.
» Among the MIAA's charts, Lincoln is second in offensive rebounds per game (14), listed third in rebound margin (5.4) and three-point defense (.289) and fourth in turnover margin (2.61) and forced turnovers (15.1).
» Against the MIAA, the Blue Tigers are 11th in scoring (63.4), 12th in scoring defense (73.6) and field goal percentage (.386).
» Zhanesha Dickerson paces the team in blocks (18) and scoring (15.9), while shooting .388 from the field and .787 from the line. Dickerson has started 17 of 18 games she's appeared in this season.
» Zoi Thompson is second in scoring (14.5) and the team leader in assists (74) and steals (28). Thompson is shooting .395 from the field, but has amassed just 20 points in her last four games.
» Bre Coleman averages a team-best 8.3 rebounds and is third in scoring with 13.1 points per game. Coleman is .490 from the field. In her last four, she is 18-of-38 (.474) shooting, 10.3 points and recorded a career-high 17 rebounds vs Southwest Baptist.
» Lincoln is the only member of the MIAA recognized as a HBCU.
» Lincoln is led by head coach Ayana McWillams, now in her third season with the program.

WHAT A WASHBURN WIN MEANS...
» ...improve to 14-5 on the year and 9-1 in the MIAA.
» ...Ron McHenry's 440th career victory.

THE PURSUIT OF 1000
» Reagan Phelan enters the weekend 29 points shy of becoming the 23rd player in program-history to reach 1,000 career points.
» In her first two seasons Phelan amassed 772 points, averaging 386 per season and has been among the team's top three scorers each season.
» The last Washburn player to reach the 1000-point mark was Laura Kinderknecht during the 2012-13, finishing her career with 1,017.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Washburn basketball has been listed among the NCAA Division II top 10 in attendance for 16 consecutive seasons. During the 2017-18 season, the Ichabods were ranked fifth nationally in overall attendance drawing 25,311, averaging 1,582 fans per home contest.  

HISTORY MAC-KER
On Dec. 18, with a decisive victory over Embry-Riddle (Fla.), head coach Ron McHenry surpassed Patty Dick as the all-time leader wins as he notched No. 432. McHenry's latest accomplishment comes nearly two seasons after notching his 400th career win. Now in his 19th season with Washburn, McHenry has eight MIAA titles with 12 trips to the NCAA Championship plus Washburn's only NCAA national title (2005).

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
The 2018-19 academic year marks the 50th season of women's athletics at Washburn University, which began with volleyball, basketball, softball, field hockey and gymnastics. Although, field hockey and gymnastics are no longer available, the offerings for female student-athletes has grown to eight sports with the addition of soccer, tennis, and cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field.

UP NEXT
» Washburn returns to action Saturday as it welcomes Lindenwood for its final regular season MIAA contest at Lee Arena.