THE TIP-OFF
Washburn returns home for a two-game stint beginning with Thursday as it hosts Northeastern State at 5:30 pm. The Ichabods already have a placed secured in the MIAA Tournament, but began the week tied for second in the MIAA standings with Lindenwood at 10-3. Thursday's matchup is the 14th all-time meeting with the RiverHawks and the only scheduled meeting of the season. The Ichabods will try to avenge a 67-58 home loss from last season.

Wednesday 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 11th regular season meeting and 13th all-time.
» Washburn leads the series, 8-5.
» The Ichabods are 4-2 when hosting Northeastern State at home, but lost in their last meeting (1/11/2018), 67-58.

PREVIEWING NORTHEASTERN STATE
» The RiverHawks visit Topeka at 6-16 on the year, 3-10 in the MIAA.
» With wins over Lincoln and Southwest Baptist, NSU is 2-3 in its last five.
» Against the MIAA, Northeastern State offense is 11th in scoring (62.9),  8th in field goal shooting (.412 — 262-636) and 12th in three-point percentage (.287 — 80-174). The defense meanwhile is 11th in scoring (71.3) and 8th in field goal percent against (.423).
» Cenia Hayes is one three double-digit scorers for the RiverHawks, averaging a team-best 13.3 points this season. She is followed by Bailee Eldred (12.2) and Cailyn Long (11.8).
» Eldred is NSU leader in rebounds averaging 7.9 per game. 
» Joi Bertand is second in the MIAA with a team-best 55 blocks.
» Head coach Fala Bullock is in her second season with NSU, going 10-17 last season. Bullock led Armstrong State four seasons at where she went 60-52.

WHAT A WASHBURN WIN MEANS...
» ...improve to 16-7 on the year, 11-3 in the MIAA.
» ...improve to 906-0 all-time when outscoring opponents.
» ...career win number 442 for head coach Ron McHenry.

ON THE GLASS
» Washburn has out rounded opponents in 15 times this season, but has trailed in three of its last four games.
» Washburn has pulled down 40 or more rebounds eight times.
» Three Ichabods are north of the 100 rebound mark, with Hunter Bentley's 118 boards leading the way. Taylor Blue and Alexis McAfee follow with 113 and 108 respectively. 

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 return Saturday to face Central Oklahoma at 1 pm. Halftime of the Saturday's game will be a celebration of 50 years of women's basketball.