TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn women's basketball team will open its home schedule on Thursday, Dec. 3, against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos. The game is slated to begin at 6 p.m. in Lee Arena.

OPENING TIP
>> The Ichabods are 0-2 on the young season after falling, 75-69, at Fort Hays State on Tuesday evening.
>> Central Oklahoma is 2-0 after picking up victories over Missouri Southern (W, 75-74) and Pittsburg State (W, 80-50).
>> The Ichabods came away with a 63-60 victory over the Bronchos in their last meeting on Jan. 23, 2020.
>> Washburn is 4-3 when playing UCO in Lee Arena.
>> Washburn has won every home opener since Ron McHenry has been head coach which is a 20-game home opening winning streak.

GAME INFORMATION
>> Washburn will limit its in-person attendance to immediate family members of Ichabod players only through home games in December. Face coverings must be worn at all times and social distancing will be implemented in the stands.
>> All games will be streamed on the MIAA Network. Fans can purchase a single game pass for $10 or a full season package is available for $100.
>> Thursday's game will be broadcasted on the radio at 580 AM and streamed online.
>> Live stats will also be available here. 

WASHBURN NOTES
>> Aubree Dewey leads the Ichabods in scoring as she averages 12.5 ppg. In her second game as an Ichabod, the freshman was 7-of-11 from the floor against Fort Hays and scored 16 points.
>> Nuria Barrientos poured in 16 points against FHSU and is averaging 11.0 ppg. She leads the team in assists after back-to-back games with four assists.
>> Hunter Bentley is also averaging double-figures in scoring at 10.0 ppg. She recorded the first Washburn double-double of the season against the Tigers with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
>> Bentley leads the team in rebounds, averaging 8.0 boards per game.
>> Shay Tanking and Hannah Willey both scored career-highs on Tuesday night. Tanking scored seven points in seven minutes and Willey added four points.
>> The Ichabods shot 50 percent from the field in the first and third quarters against the Tigers.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
>> The 2020-21 season marks the 37th season of play in Lee Arena as the facility opened in the 1983-84 season.
>> Washburn is 424-104 all-time in Lee Arena.
>> Washburn is 32-5 in home openers since Lee Arena opened.

WASHBURN IN THE MIAA
>> Washburn is tied for the best field goal percentage in the MIAA at 45.5 percent.
>> Dewey is eighth in field goal percentage (.550) in the league and 15th in scoring average (12.5 ppg).
>> Bentley is tied for seventh in the conference in rebounds with 8.0 rpg. She is also sixth in the MIAA in minutes played at 35.5 mpg.
>> Barrientos is sixth in assists average (4.0) and third in assist/turnover ratio after just two turnovers to her eight assists.

ABOUT THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS
>> In the 2019-20 season, Central Oklahoma finished seventh in the MIAA standings with an overall record of 18-10 (12-7 MIAA).
>> The Bronchos didn't seem to mind playing away from home last season as the team went 8-3 in away games.
>> The team was picked seventh in the 2020-21 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll.
>> In two games played this season, UCO is averaging 77.5 ppg and has held its opponents to 62.0 ppg.
>> UCO is shooting 45.5 percent from the field so far this season.
>> They have struggled a little at the free throw line, however, as they have converted on 33-of-48 (68.8%) attempts at the charity stripe.
>> The Bronchos are led by Kelsey Johnson, who is off to a hot start. She is averaging 28.0 ppg and 12.0 rpg and was named the MIAA Player of the Week on Nov. 23.
>> Also averaging double-figures in scoring is Avery Allen (11.5 ppg) and Jaci Littell (11.0 ppg). 

HEAD COACH GUY HARDAKER
>> Guy Hardaker is in his 15th season coaching at his alma mater and has an overall record of 267-149 during his tenure.
>> He has led UCO to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 2009 and 2011.
>> He was named the Lone Star Conference North Division Coach of the Year for the 2008-09 season.
>> Prior to joining the UCO coaching staff, he coached at the high school level for 19 years.
>> In addition to coaching both boys and girls basketball teams, he also coached golf.
>> Hardaker is 7-9 against Washburn.

SERIES WITH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
>> Washburn holds an 11-8 series advantage.
>> The series is even at 3-3 when playing in Lee Arena.
>> The Ichabods and Bronchos last played each other on Jan. 23, 2020. Washburn held on for the 63-60 home victory.
>> Bentley was Washburn's leading scorer in that game with 18 points.
>> Coach McHenry is 10-8 against UCO.

LAST TIME AGAINST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA (Jan. 23, 2020)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods fought back and used a late scoring rally as well as good defense to hand Central Oklahoma its first road loss of the season on Thursday night in a 63-60 decision in Lee Arena. 

The Ichabods held a two point lead at the break, 27-25, but a 5-0 run by the Bronchos to start the second half gave Central Oklahoma a lead it would hold until the final 98 seconds of regulation. Hunter Bentley made a jump shot to get Washburn within one at the 2:08 mark in the fourth and on UCO's next possession, Washburn was able to draw a crucial offensive foul. The Ichabods capitalized on the turnover as Reagan Phelan connected on a triple to put Washburn in front, 59-57. The Bronchos knotted up the score at 59-all with a pair of made free throws. 

With 53 seconds left, Shelbe Piggie hit a jumper to put Washburn back on top. The Washburn defense cracked down yet again on the next possession and the Bronchos committed another turnover from a charge. Phelan made one of two free throws with 13 seconds left to give Washburn a 62-59 advantage. Central Oklahoma was forced to foul as time was running out and found Alexis McAfee with six seconds left. McAfee missed both free throws and the game stayed within one possession. 

The Ichabods defended a little too close on the next possession as it was Wasburn who committed the next foul and sent the Bronchos to the line with five seconds left. Micayla Haynes made the first free throw to make the score 62-60. Haynes attempted to hit the edge of the rim on the second free throw in the hopes of a quick basket off a rebound to tie the game, but the ball never hit the rim and the Ichabods took over. Phelan was fouled with four seconds left and made the first free throw to make it a three-point game again. She missed the second, but Central Oklahoma was unable to get a shot off and the Ichabods claimed the 63-60 decision.

Washburn finished out the first quarter on a 9-2 run and held a 13-7 lead after the opening 10 minutes. The Ichabods' largest lead of the game came at the 6:53 mark in the second when Phelan knocked down a three to put Washburn up by six, 16-10. The Bronchos fought back and tied up the game and then took a two point lead with 1:48 on the clock, but a 4-0 mini run by the Ichabods gave them the 27-25 lead at halftime.

The Ichabods finished the game shooting 40.8 percent from the field (20-of-49) and 35 percent from three-point land (7-of-20) while the Bronchos shot 39.3 percent from the floor (22-of-56) and went 6-for-21 from behind the arc (28.6 percent). Washburn made 24 total trips to the free throw line and converted on 16 attempts while UCO went 10-for-15 from the foul line. Washburn won the battle of the boards, pulling down 38 rebounds to Central Oklahoma's 30.

Bentley paced the Ichabods with 18 points and pulled down six rebounds to go with three steals. McAfee chipped in 16 points and Phelan scored 10, with both also grabbing six boards apiece. Piggie was 6-of-11 from the field and totaled 13 points and dished out a team-high four assists.

2020-21 MIAA COACHES PRESEASON POLL
>> Heading into the new season, Washburn was tabbed eighth in the MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll and earned 79 total points.
>> Emporia State was voted the conference favorite, earning four first-place votes and 153 total points.
>> Nebraska-Kearney, Central Missouri, Pittsburg State, and Fort Hays State rounded out the top-five.

WASHBURN COACHES
>> McHenry is in his 21st season at Washburn and holds an overall record of 464-154 (272-108 MIAA).
>> His .751 winning percentage ranks 14th among active Division II coaches.
>> Brette (Ulsaker) Herber begins her eighth season on the Ichabod bench as a coach. Herber played for McHenry for three seasons (2007-10) and was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
>> Erika (Lane) Yoder is in her second season as an assistant coach for Washburn. She also played for McHenry from 2014 to 2017 and was a two-time all-MIAA selection.

MILESTONE WATCH
>> Bentley is 11 rebounds away from collecting 500 in her career.
>> Abby Oliver is nearing 100 career points and needs just four more. She is also 16 rebounds shy of hitting the 100 mark.

'BODS AND ENDS
>> Bentley recorded her seventh career double-double on Dec. 1.
>> There were 14 lead changes and eight ties in Tuesday's game at Fort Hays State. 
>> Neither team led by more than five until the fourth quarter and then the biggest lead was six points twice.
>> Washburn is 183-59 all-time in the month of December.

WASHBURN HISTORY
>> Washburn women's basketball is 945-437-1 (.684) all-time and will commence the 52nd year of the program's history.
>> Washburn is sixth all-time in Division II in victories.
>> Washburn claimed the 2005 NCAA National Championship over Seattle Pacific with a 70-53 win to cap off a 35-2 season.
>> Washburn has made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances and is 26-16 all-time in those postseason games.
>> The program has won 18 total MIAA Championships, earning nine regular season conference titles and winning nine MIAA Tournament championships.
>> There have been 30 All-American awards given to Washburn players, with 11 of those coming from the WBCA.
>> Washburn has finished 14 seasons with 25 wins and four seasons with 30 victories.

TAKE A LOOK AHEAD
>> The Ichabods continue their homestand on Saturday, Dec. 5 as Newman comes to Topeka. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.