TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn women's basketball team opens the 2021-22 season this weekend at the MIAA/GAC Crossover Challenge in Weatherford, Okla. The Ichabods will take on the host team No. 16 Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday at 6 p.m. and then close out the tournament against Oklahoma Baptist with a 1 p.m. matinee game.
GAME #1 INFORMATION
Washburn (0-0) at No. 16/24 Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-2)
Friday, Nov. 12 | 6 p.m. | Pioneer Cellular Event Center | Weatherford, Okla.
Watch: SWOSU TV
Radio: 106.9 FM
Live stats: wusports.com/sidearmstats/wbball
GAME #2 INFORMATION
Washburn (0-0) at Oklahoma Baptist (0-0)
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 1 p.m. | Pioneer Cellular Event Center | Weatherford, Okla.
Watch: SWOSU TV
Radio online stream here
Live stats: wusports.com/sidearmstats/wbball
OPENING TIP
>> SWOSU has already played three games and is 1-2 to start the season.
>> Oklahoma Baptist went 1-2 in preseason exhibition games, but will officially get its season started on Friday afternoon against Pittsburg State.
>> The Ichabods went 12-12 (11-11 MIAA) in the conference-only 2020-21 season.
>> Washburn returns six starters and 14 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.
>> WU played one preseason exhibition game this season on Oct. 31 at Kansas State. The Wildcats picked up the 68-39 victory.
>> Washburn is 40-12 all-time in season openers.
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 SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE LADY BULLDOGS
>> After going 18-4 (16-2 GAC) and competing in the NCAA South Central Region Tournament championship game last season, the Lady Bulldogs were voted the favorite in the GAC Presesason Poll.
>> Southwestern Oklahoma is ranked 16th in the WBCA Preseason Poll and 24th in the D2SIDA Preseason Poll.
>> The Lady Bulldogs have three games under their belt and are 1-2 with an 86-80 victory over No. 6 Central Missouri on Oct. 30.
>> The team's two losses have been to No. 2 Drury (L, 92-79) and West Texas A&M (L, 81-68).
>> SWOSU returns all five of its main starters including reigning GAC Player of the Year, Makyra Tramble, who led the team in scoring (19.2 ppg) and rebounds (9.9 rpg). She also added 3.3 apg and made 79 steals to go with 20 blocks.
>> Returning all-conference second team selection Karly Gore also started all 21 games last season and was second on the team with 14.9 ppg and averaged 5.2 rpg.
>> Bethany Franks also averaged double-figures last year with 11.1 ppg and contributed 7.3 rpg.
>> Last year, the Lady Bulldogs started strong in each of their games outscored their opponents 424-335 in the first quarter.
HEAD COACH KELSI MUSICK
>> Kelsi Musick is entering her 13th season with the Lady Bulldogs and holds a career record of 230-120.
>> She has led SWOSU to two-consecutive GAC regular season titles (2018 and 2019) and five total NCAA tournament appearances.
>> Prior to being named the head coach at Southwestern Oklahoma, Musick was an assistant coach at Freno State.
>> She is 1-0 against the Ichabods.
SERIES WITH SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE
>> This will mark the sixth all-time meeting between these two programs with Washburn holding a slight 3-2 series lead.
>> Washburn has never faced SWOSU on its home court.
>> Coach McHenry is 2-1 all-time against the Lady Bulldogs.
LAST MEETING WITH SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE
Southwestern Oklahoma State 80, Washburn 62 -- Nov. 8, 2019
PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Washburn women's basketball team fought back in the second quarter after trailing by as many as 19 points to get within five at halftime, but No. 20 Southwestern Oklahoma State pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 80-62 in the season opener.
Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-0) scored the first points of the game on a layup, but Washburn (0-1) took the lead at 4-3 and then 6-5 in the middle of the first quarter. The Lady Bulldogs reclaimed the lead and finished out the opening quarter on a 14-4 scoring run for a 24-10 advantage.
The Lady Bulldogs led 31-12 at the 7:41 mark in the second quarter when Hunter Bentley sparked a 14-0 scoring run for the Ichabods with a three-pointer as they pulled within five at 31-26. Washburn outscored Southwestern Oklahoma, 21-12, in the second quarter and went into the halftime down 36-31.
SWOSU opened the second half by scoring six of the first eight points to go up 42-33. The Ichabods got within five points again (51-46) after two made free throws from Bentley and a layup from Sabela Reigosa with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter, but two made jumpers by the Lady Bulldogs ended the period at 55-46.
Southwestern Oklahoma State led by nine or more points for the entirety of the final frame as Washburn shot 5-of-15 from the floor and the Lady Bulldogs hit four triples on their way to scoring 25 points in the final quarter.
The Lady Bulldogs drained 11-of-26 three-point attempts while the Ichabods struggled behind the arc, going just 3-15. Washburn won the battle of the boards as it pulled down 51 rebounds to Southwestern Oklahoma's 37.
Shelbe Piggie led Washburn with 13 points and had a team-high four assists. Bentley recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds and also made two steals. Mia Castaneda chipped in nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor.
The Lady Bulldogs had four players finish in double-digits, led by Lauren Ramey who netted 22 on a perfect day shooting as she went 7-7 from the floor with four three-pointers.
ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA BAPTIST BISON
>> The Bison went 4-17 (3-15 GAC) in the 2020-21 season and averaged 60.8 ppg with a .379 field goal percentage while also grabbing 37.0 rpg.
>> They were picked ninth in this year's conference preseason poll.
>> The team returns their top-three scorers from last season, led by Kalifa Ford who averaged 15.2 ppg in 13 games played.
>> Jaylin Stapleton is back for her senior year after tallying 11.6 ppg and 3.94 apg, a mark that was fifth best in the GAC.
>> Andreja Peciuraite played in all 21 games last year and contributed 11.0 ppg and a team-best 7.2 rpg.
>> The Bison played three exhibition games this preseason, falling at Texas A&M (89-38) and Texas (77-44) before closing out the exhibition slate with a win against Southwestern Christian (64-57).
HEAD COACH BO OVERTON
>> Although Bo Overton is in his second year leading the Bison, he is no stranger to coaching as he has experience at all levels including the Chinese National Team, the WNBA, the University of Oklahoma, Louisiana Tech University, Oral Roberts University, and Murray State College.
>> Twice he was named the NAIA Coach of the Year and the SAC Coach of the Year.
SERIES WITH OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
>> This will be the second all-time meeting between these two teams.
>> Washburn won the first ever matchup in a neutral site game on Nov. 9, 2019.
LAST MEETING WITH OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
Washburn 89, Oklahoma Baptist 88 -- Nov. 9, 2019
PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods placed five scorers in double figures and hit a free throw with one second remaining to top Oklahoma Baptist 89-88 to even its record at 1-1 on the second day of the MIAA/GAC Challenge.
Abby Oliver hit the first of two free throws with one second to play breaking an 88-all tie to push Washburn to the win.
Washburn trailed 28-26 at the end of the first quarter, but outscored the Bison 24 to 18 in the second quarter taking a 50-46 lead into the break. After being outscored in the third quarter 29 to 21, Washburn held the Bison to 13 fourth quarter points.
With 4:44 to go, the Bison went up 86-84, but a pair of free throws by Alexis McAfee with 3:39 remaining tied the score back at 86-all. Oliver would hit two free throws after being fouled with 2:04 to go pushing Washburn back up two at 88-86. The Bison tied the score on their next possession with 1:49 left, but missed their next two field goal attempts leading to the foul of Oliver with one second left after she drove to the basket, picked up her own offensive rebound and then was fouled on the put back.
Reagan Phelan led the Ichabods with 26 points adding three rebounds and three assists and McAfee recorded her first career double double with 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Mia Castaneda scored 19 hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers and Oliver and Hunter Bentley each had 10 points.
The Ichabods shot 46 percent from the field for the game hitting 11 of 28 3-pointers overall and 16 of 22 free throws. After shooting 63 percent in the first half (17 of 27), the Bison were held of 47 percent (14 of 30) from the field in the second half hitting 18 of 21 free throws overall.
The Ichabods were outrebounded 34 to 32, but turned 12 Oklahoma Baptist turnovers into 19 points in a game which saw nine lead changes.
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.
>> WU 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 will play its first home game of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 17 against Benedictine College. Tip-off in Lee Arena is set for 7 p.m.
