TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn women's basketball team will open the 2021-22 campaign with their only exhibition game of the preseason taking on Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. on Sunday, Oct. 31.
EXHIBITION GAME INFORMATION
Washburn (0-0) at Kansas State (0-0)
Sunday, October 31 | 1 p.m. | Bramlage Coliseum | Manhattan, Kan.
TV: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Radio: 106.9 FM
Live stats: wusports.com/sidearmstats/wbball
Tickets: $9-12 Adult Reserved; $5 Advanced General Admission; #3 Group Rate
*In accordance with Kansas State University policy, it is required that face coverings be worn at Bramlage Coliseum, regardless of vaccination status, unless actively eating or drinking.
OPENING TIP
>> K-State won the last exhibition meeting, 75-59, on Oct. 29, 2019.
>> The Ichabods went 12-12 (11-11 MIAA) in the conference-only 2020-21 season.
>> Washburn returns six starters and 15 total players from last season while welcoming three transfer players and four freshmen.
>> The Ichabods were voted sixth in both the 2021-22 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll and Media Poll.
>> The Wildcats welcome back eight letterwinners from last season's 9-18 (3-15 Big 12) team.
ALL-MIAA RETURNERS
>> Hunter Bentley and Nuria Barrientos received all-MIAA honors at the conclusion of the 2020-21 regular season.
>> Bentley earned her third all-MIAA award as she was selected to the second team.
>> She finished in the top-10 of the MIAA in scoring (15.2 ppg/10th), free throw percentage (89.8 percent/second in MIAA/11th in NCAA Division II), and minutes played (864.36/second in MIAA/second in NCAA Division II).
>> In her first season as an Ichabod, Barrientos received an honorable mention nod.
>> At the conclusion of the season, she was ranked in the conference top-20 in rebounds (7.8 rpg/sixth in MIAA), assists (2.3 apg/18th in MIAA), steals (1.6 spg/eighth in MIAA), blocks (1.3 bpg/seventh in MIAA), and minutes per game (seventh in MIAA/fifth in NCAA Division II).
WELCOME BACK
>> In addition to Bentley and Barrientos, 13 other players return from last year's squad.
>> Lauren Cassaday was consistent in the post as she appeared in all 24 games and averaged 5.4 ppg and 4.0 rpg. She also finished the year with a 54.0 field goal percentage.
>> Mackenzie Gamble came on strong at the end of her freshman season last year and was third on the team with 7.5 ppg. She put up 22 points against Emporia State (Feb. 27) and then 18 at No. 15 Central Missouri (Mar. 3) in the MIAA quarterfinal game.
>> Aubree Dewey started 16 of the 20 games she played. She averaged 6.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, and 2.2 apg. Dewey scored double-digits in three of her first four collegiate games.
>> Macy Doebele appeared in all 24 games and made 22 starts. She was third on the team in total rebounds with 99 for a 4.1 rpg average.
>> Abby Oliver started 13 games and contributed 8.9 ppg to go with 4.2 rpg before being sidelined with an injury.
>> Off the bench, Hannah Willey appeared in all 24 games and averaged 16.2 minutes per game. She hit four three-pointers against Central Oklahoma (Dec. 3, 2020).
FRESH FACES
>> There are four true freshmen all from the Sunflower State on this season's roster: Austin Broadie (Burns, Kan./Trinity Academy), Jaden Newfarmer (Andover, Kan./Andover Central), Olivia Wedman (Wichita, Kan./Maize), and Bailey Collar (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West).
A Trio of Transfers
>> In addition to the four freshman, three transfers round out the seven newcomers to the squad.
>> Shae Sanchez is no stranger to the MIAA as she spent the past two seasons at Northeastern State. Prior to that, she starter her collegiate career at College of the Sequoias (Visalia, Calif.)
>> Emma Chapman is a transfer from Kansas State. She appeared in 22 games during the 2019-20 season.
>> Mya Johnson joins the Ichabods after one season at Northwestern Oklahoma State and two at Collin County Community College.
2021-22 PRESEASON POLLS
>> Heading into the new season, the Ichabods were picked sixth in both the 2021-22 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and the Media Poll.
>> Leading the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll was reigning regular season champion Fort Hays State with six first-place votes and 159 total points. Central Missouri was voted second with three first-place votes and earned 154 points. Nebraska-Kearney also received three first-place votes and was right behind with 153 points.
>> In the media poll, FHSU and UCM tied for first place with 118 points. UNK was third after tallying 112 points.
>> The Ichabods finished seventh in the MIAA standings and reached the MIAA Tournament semifinal game after defeating No. 15 nationally ranked and No. 2 seed Central Missouri on the road.
1K POINTS FOR BENTLEY
>> On Jan. 23, 2021 at Emporia State, senior guard Bentley became the 24th player in program history to join the 1,000 career point club.
>> She finished the game as the team's top-scorer with 13 second half points.
>> Heading into this season, Bentley is 12th on Washburn's all-time scorers list with 1,201 points.
BASKETBALL IN BRAZIL
>> Coming off solid freshmen campaigns, Lauren Cassaday and Aubree Dewey were selected as members of the USA D2 team that played three games in Brazil this past summer.
>> After the tour was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo marked the third-straight time an Ichabod was chosen to represent the USA on the Brazil tour as Alexis McAfee went in 2019 and Reagan Phelan went in 2018.
ABOUT THE KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
>> Kansas State also had the number of games it played last year reduced due to COVID-19 precautions. The Wildcats closed out the season 9-18 (3-15 Big 12).
>> Their season came to a close in the Big 12 quarterfinal game against West Virginia, falling 58-56 on a buzzer beating layup.
>> Last season, KSU averaged 63.0 ppg and had a 41.1 field goal percentage.
>> There are eight letterwinners returning from last season and they are joined by six newcomers - two sophomores and four freshmen.
>> The team returns All-American Ayoka Lee, who led the Wildcats with 19.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.0 bpg, and an 81.2 free throw percentage.
>> Three-point specialist Rachel Ranke returns after sinking 55 triples last season (30.2 3PT%). She averaged 9.0 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
>> Emilee Ebert led the squad in assists as she dished out 3.3 apg. She also finished second in minutes played (30.9 mpg) while contributing 5.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
HEAD COACH JEFF MITTIE
>> Jeff Mittie is in his 30th season as a head coach and eighth season at K-State, where he has led the Wildcats to a 125-97 record.
>> Mittie started his coaching career at Missouri Western in 1992 and was there until 1995 ... he then went to Arkansas State from 1995-99 and Texas Christian University for 15 years (1999-2014) before planting himself in the Sunflower State in 2014.
>> In addition to his time at Missouri Western, Mittie also had ties to the MIAA through his daughter, Madison, who played basketball at Fort Hays State from 2016-21.
>> He holds a career coaching record of 579-332.
SERIES WITH KANSAS STATE
>> Sunday's game will be the 11th time the Ichabods have played the Wildcats in an exhibition tilt in the McHenry era.
>> Kansas State is 10-0 when playing Washburn in exhibition games.
>> Prior to exhibition games, the Ichabods played the Wildcats in five official games in the 1970s ... K-State claimed all five victories.
>> Washburn last played K-State in Lee Arena on Feb. 21, 1974 when the Wildcats won 50-30.
LAST MEETING WITH KANSAS STATE
Kansas State 75, Washburn 59 -- Oct. 29, 2019
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods trailed Kansas State 27-9 at the end of the first quarter but rallied to take a 47-46 lead with 1:46 to go in the third quarter before falling 75-59 in their exhibition opener.
The Ichabods struggled from the field in the first quarter going 3 of 17 but then outscored the Wildcats 38-25 in the second and third quarters after improving to 13 of 37 in the middle two frames while holding K-State to 1 of 11 in the third quarter. The Wildcats did hit 12 of 14 free throws in the third quarter to take a 52-47 lead into the final stanza.
After Washburn took the one-point lead late in the third quarter, the Wildcats would go on a 14-3 run over the next 4:05 opening up a 13-point advantage at 60-47 and the Ichabods did not get within eight points the rest of the way.
Shelbe Piggie and Hunter Bentley led the Ichabods with 11 points each and Mia Castaneda scored nine points off the bench. Bentley recorded a double double adding 11 rebounds and Alexis McAfee had seven points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Akoya Lee led the Wildcats with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field.
Washburn finished the game 21-of-70 from the field and was 11-of-34 from 3-point range. The Ichabods connected on 6-of-12 free throws while K-State was 22-of-31 at the charity stripe. The Wildcats shot 41 percent from the field going 25-of-61 overall and 3-of-16 from deep.
The Ichabods trailed by three in rebounds at 46 to 43.
WASHBURN COACHES
>> McHenry is entering his 22nd season at Washburn and holds an overall record of 476-164 (283-117 MIAA).
>> Brette (Ulsaker) Herber begins her ninth 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 starts her third 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 957-445-1 (.683) all-time and will commence the 53rd year of the program's history.
>> 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.
NEXT UP
>> Washburn gets a couple weeks off before officially beginning the 2021-22 season with two games on the road at the Regional Crossover hosted by Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford, Okla. The Ichabods will take on the Lady Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 12 before closing out the opening weekend on Saturday, Nov. 13 against Oklahoma Baptist.
