OPENING TIP
>> The Washburn women's basketball team looks to extend its three-game winning streak on Saturday in the first-ever matchup against Rogers State (4-20, 2-13 MIAA). Tip-off in Claremore, Okla., is set for 2 p.m.
>> The Ichabods have won six of their last seven games and are 14-9 (8-6 MIAA).
>> The Hillcats are coming off a tough 107-45 loss to Emporia State on Thursday night.
>> Rogers State was picked 13th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and 12th in the Media Poll.
>> Washburn was tabbed third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and fourth in the Media Poll.
>> The Ichabods are 3-6 on the road while the Hillcats are 4-8 at home.
WASHBURN NOTES
>> The Ichabods average 69.4 ppg and have a 42.6 field goal percentage.
>> The team has the third-highest three-point field goal percentage in the MIAA at 34.6 percent.
>> Bentley leads the team in scoring (13 ppg), rebounds (7.3 rpg), free throw percentage (76.4%), blocks (0.7 bpg), and steals (2.0 spg).
>> She ranks in the top-18 in the conference in each of those categories.
>> Shelbe Piggie has finished in double-figures in the last eight-straight games and averages 12.7 ppg on the year.
>> She is 14 points away from reaching the 500 career point mark in just two seasons at Washburn.
>> Reagan Phelan averages 12.5 ppg and leads the team in assists with 4.9 per game, which is second in the MIAA. She currently has 415 career assists and is two away from moving up to fourth all-time in Washburn's record books.
>> Bentley and Phelan lead the conference in minutes played as Bentley logs 35.1 mpg while Phelan averages 33.7 minutes on the hardwood.
>> Alexis McAfee was one rebound shy of a double-double against Northeastern State and finished with 11 points and nine boards.
>> McAfee helps the team with 9.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 2.9 apg.
>> Hayley Thompson made every shot she attempted against NSU, going 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe for 10 points on the night.
>> She holds a field goal percentage of 68.5 percent (63-of-92).
>> The starting five against the RiverHawks (Piggie, Phelan, McAfee, Bentley, and Thompson) all finished in double-figure scoring.
>> The Ichabods are 12-0 when leading after the first quarter and 14-0 with a lead at halftime.
>> Washburn averages 7.5 three-pointers per game, but made just three against the RiverHawks to tie a season-low. The team made three triples against Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northwest Missouri.
>> Washburn is currently tied for seventh in the MIAA standings with the top-10 teams advancing to the MIAA Tournament.
>> Six teams (Central Missouri, Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State, Missouri Western, Central Oklahoma, and Pittsburg State) have already clinched a place in the post season.
ABOUT THE ROGERS STATE HILLCATS
>> Rogers State is in its first season as a member of the MIAA after being a part of the Heartland Conference.
>> The team's two conference wins have come against Lincoln and Northeastern State.
>> The Hillcats average 62.5 ppg and shoot 36.8 percent from the field.
>> They struggle shooting the ball from behind the arc and are shooting at a 28.9 percent clip from distance.
>> Alicia Brown leads the team in scoring as she averages 9.0 ppg
>> Darian Jackson averages 3.7 rpg and has 50 offensive boards out of her 138 total.
>> Bailey Kliewer leads the team in total blocks this season with 26.
HEAD COACH KYLE BENT
>> Kyle Bent is in his second season as the head coach of the Hillcats.
>> Prior to joining Rogers State's program, he spent four seasons at the Martin Methodist College where he became the winningest coach in school history with a record of 95-38 and four-straight NAIA National Tournament appearances.
>> He was also the head coach at Danville Area Community College for four seasons.
>> Bent earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in sport management from the University of Illinois.
SERIES WITH ROGERS STATE
>> This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
LAST TIME OUT FOR WASHBURN (Feb. 13, 2020)
WASHBURN 62 (14-9, 8-6 MIAA)
NORTHEASTERN STATE 55 (5-17, 3-12 MIAA)
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – After a hot start, the Washburn women's basketball team fell cold in the second in third quarters before finding their groove again in the fourth to secure a 62-55 victory over Northeastern State on Thursday night. The Ichabods pick up their third-straight win and move up to 14-9 (8-6 MIAA) while the RiverHawks drop to 5-17 (3-12 MIAA).
The Ichabods jumped out to a commanding lead, shooting 6-for-6 from the field and scoring the first 13 points of the game. The RiverHawks didn't score their first bucket until the 6:13 mark. Washburn pushed its lead to 16-2 before Northeastern State chipped away at the deficit with a 6-0 run. A three-pointer by Reagan Phelan put Washburn up by double-figures again and started a 7-2 run to end the first quarter. The Ichabods finished the first frame shooting 64.3 percent (9-for-14) and led 23-10.
The tables turned in the second quarter as Washburn struggled and was outscored 18-8. Northeastern State started the second stanza with eight unanswered points and held Washburn scoreless until the 6:42 mark when Hayley Thompson hit two free throws. The RiverHawks whittled Washburn's lead down to one point twice in the final two and a half minutes, but Phelan had the last say of the first half with a made jumper to give the Ichabods a 31-28 lead at the break.
The Ichabods made 10 trips to the charity stripe in the first half and made seven free throws, while the RiverHawks didn't attempt a single free throw.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the second half with Washburn holding a slim lead until Northeastern State went on an 8-0 burst to take a 38-34 advantage with 3:28 on the clock. Bentley scored the next four points for the Ichabods to even the score at 38-all. The RiverHawks were fouled on the next possession and made both free throws on just their second trip to the free throw line of the game. A Macy Doebele layup with two minutes left would knot up the score at 40-40, which is where the score stood at the end of the third quarter.
The RiverHawks reclaimed the lead early in the fourth frame on a 7-2 run to go in front, 47-42. A timely three-pointer by Phelan ignited an 11-0 tear as the Ichabods flipped the score in their favor, 53-47, and held the RiverHawks scoreless for over four minutes. Northeastern State continued to fight and got within two points at 55-53 with 1:20 remaining in regulation, but the Ichabods cashed in on seven of eight free throw attempts to seal the 62-55 win.
Washburn shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the field while Northeastern State shot slightly better at 39.3 percent (24-of-61). The Ichabods were 3-of-17 from behind the arc and the RiverHawks finished 2-for-11 from distance. The Ichabods finished with a big advantage at the charity stripe, going 17-for-24, to the RiverHawks' 5-for-6 total, which were all in the second half.
Piggie led five Ichabods in double-figure scoring with 13 points. Phelan and Bentley chipped in 12 each. Alexis McAfee was 5-for-6 from the charity stripe en route to 11 points and she and Bentley both grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists. Hayley Thompson was 4-for-4 from the field and made both of her free throw attempts to finish with 10 points
WASHBURN COACHES
>> McHenry is in his 20th season at Washburn and holds an overall record of 460-149 (267-104 MIAA).
>> McHenry, a national champion and the WBCA Division II Coach of the Year in 2005, is a four-time MIAA Coach of the Year as well as a two-time region Coach of the Year.
>> He has led the program to eight MIAA regular season titles and seven MIAA tournament titles as well as to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.
>> His .761 winning percentage is 16th-best in Division II.
>> He was the quickest head coach to record 400 career victories in NCAA Division II women's basketball as he reached the milestone in just 512 games.
>> Became the winningest coach in Washburn women's basketball history on Dec. 18, 2018, when he earned his 432nd victory to surpass the record of his predecessor, Patty Dick (1977-2000).
>> McHenry played basketball and golf at Washburn University, where he graduated in 1984.
>> Brette (Ulsaker) Herber is in her seventh season on the Ichabod bench as an assistant 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 first season as an assistant coach for Washburn. She also played for McHenry from 2014 to 2017 and was a two-time all-MIAA selection.
WASHBURN HISTORY
>> Washburn women's basketball is 941-430-1 (.687) all-time and is in the 51st season of the program's history.
>> Washburn is tied for seventh 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
>> Washburn will play its final home series of the season against Central Missouri (Feb. 20) and Lincoln (Feb. 22) for senior day.
