THE TIP-OFF
Washburn looks to snap a two-game skid Saturday as it squares off with Southwest Baptist (6-15, 2-10 MIAA) for the final time in the MIAA action, before the Bearcats bolt the league for presumably greener pastures for the 2019-20 season. With six games remaining in the season, the Ichabods visit Bolivar, locked in a three-way tie for second at 9-3 with Pittsburg State and Lindenwood.
ON THE CALL
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
» Saturday will be the 59th all-time meeting.
» Washburn leads the series, 43-15, including a 73-50 win early this year.
» The Ichabods are 15-9 all-time in Bolivar, winning 5 of their last 6 trips.
» This is will be the final MIAA meeting for the forseeable future.
PREVIEWING SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
» The Bearcats are 6-15 this season, 2-10 in the MIAA.
» Southwest Baptist is riding a season-worst four-game losing streak for the second time this season.
» Caylee Richardson leads the team in scoring (14.6) despite missing seven games this season. Richardson is 78-of-146 (.534) from the field and has converted 45-of-49 (.918) attempts from the line. Registered seven points and two rebounds in 13 minutes against WU earlier this year.
» Morgan Henderson paces SBU in rebounds (6.6), with 11.0 points per game.
» Against the MIAA, SBU is seventh in scoring offense (69.1) but last in scoring defense as it surrenders an average of 78.0 points per game. The Bearcats are also sixth in three-pointers made (84), third in free throw percentage (.760) and 9th in turnover per game (15.9).
» The Bearcats are led by fifth-year head coach Kelsey Keizer.
» This is Southwest Baptist's final season in the MIAA after announcing last spring that it will be joining the GLVC for the 2019-20 season.
WHAT A WASHBURN WIN MEANS...
» ...improve to 15-7 on the year, 10-3 in the MIAA.
» ...extends its win streak over SBU to five games.
» ...Ron McHenry improves to 35-7 against the Bearcats since 2001-01.
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 home next week beginning with Northeastern State on Thursday, before clashing with Central Oklahoma, Saturday. Halftime of the Saturday's game will be a celebration of 50 years of women's basketball.
