TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn wraps up its homestand on Saturday against Northwest Missouri at 1 p.m. in Lee Arena.

OPENING TIP
>> Washburn improved to 8-10 after defeating Missouri Western, 51-41, on Thursday evening.
>> The Bearcats are coming off a 69-58 loss at Emporia State and now hold a record of 7-11.
>> These two programs have met 68 times since 1981 and Washburn holds a 57-11 series lead.
>> The Ichabods swept the series last season, winning both games by 16 or more points.
>> With four games remaining in the regular season, both teams are battling to be one of the eight teams to play in the MIAA Tournament. They are currently tied for seventh in the MIAA scheduling index points.

FAN ATTENDANCE
>> Tickets for Saturday's matchup against the Bearcats are sold out.
>> Fans will have one final opportunity in the regular season to cheer on the Ichabods in person when rival Emporia State comes to town on Feb. 27.
>> Tickets must be purchased in advanced either on wutickets.com or by phone at 785-670-2637.
>> Tickets will be available to purchase starting on Monday.

WASHBURN NOTES
>> Washburn shoots 39.2 percent from the field while averaging 60.8 ppg and allowing 59.1 ppg. 
>> Hunter Bentley leads the Washburn offense and is third in the MIAA with 16.8 ppg. She has scored double-figures in all but two games this season and has had seven 20+ point games.
>> Bentley also leads the league and ranks 10th in Division II in free throw percentage at 91.3%, making 73 of her 80 attempts from the charity stripe.
>> Against Missouri Western, Bentley dished out six assists and grabbed five steals to go with her 20 points.
>> Nuria Barrientos contributes 10.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg (No. 5 in MIAA), 2.6 apg (No. 13 in MIAA), 1.3 bpg (No. 7 in MIAA), and 1.9 spg (No. 6 in MIAA).
>> Macy Doebele scores 5.4 ppg and grabs 3.9 rpg.
>> Aubree Dewey (6.3 ppg) and Mackenzie Gamble (6.1 ppg) round out the Washburn starting five.
>> Lauren Cassaday was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and scored 11 of Washburn's 14 bench points on Thursday. She also recorded two blocks.
>> Cassaday has made the most of her shot attempts and holds a 53.7 field goal percentage, making 36-of-67 from the floor.

BODS AND ENDS
>> Bentley has made three or more three-pointers in six games this season.
>> Washburn has held six opponents to 49 or fewer points this season. The Ichabods are 5-1 in those games.
>> Bentley moved up to No. 12 on the Washburn all-time scorers list. She has 1,139 career points.

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 429-108 all-time in Lee Arena.
>> Coach McHenry holds a record of 239-60 when coaching in the facility. 
>> The Ichabods are 5-4 at home this season.

ABOUT THE NORTHWEST MISSOURI BEARCATS
>> The Bearcats average 56.3 ppg and allow 60.7 ppg.
>> NWMSU is 3-7 in road games this season.
>> Two Bearcats average double-digits in scoring with Molly Hartnett leading the way with 14.4 ppg. She also averages a team-best 2.9 apg.
>> Three-point specialist Jaelyn Haggard adds 10.2 ppg and averages nearly three triples per game.
>> Mallory McConkey leads the team with 5.7 rpg and contributes 7.3 ppg.

HEAD COACH AUSTIN MEYER
>> Austin Meyer is in his third season leading the Northwest Missouri women's basketball team after being a full-time staff member of the Bearcats' men's team from 2008-18.
>> Meyer became the Northwest Missouri men's associate head coach in 2015. During his tenure, he helped the Bearcats to 215 victories, 10 total MIAA titles and one NCAA National Championship.
>> As a student-athlete, Meyer was a four-year letterwinner at Northwest Missouri and held the then-program career record with 215 made three-pointers.
>> Meyer is a native of the best hometown in America, beautiful Blue Springs, Mo.
>> He is 1-3 against Washburn as a head coach.

SERIES WITH NORTHWEST MISSOURI
>> Washburn and Northwest Missouri have met 68 times since 1981 and Washburn holds a 57-11 series advantage.
>> WU has won 13 of the last 14 games.
>> When playing in Maryville, Washburn is 20-6 and has won the last six road games there.
>> Coach McHenry is 34-7 against NWMSU.

LAST TIME AGAINST NORTHWEST MISSOURI (Feb. 27, 2020)
MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The Washburn women's basketball team shot a season-high 61.5 percent from the field as they cruised to an 83-58 road victory at Northwest Missouri on Thursday evening. 

Washburn opened the game on a 9-1 scoring run and held the Bearcats without a made field goal until the 4:17 mark when Erika Schlosser hit a three-pointer to make it 9-4. Northwest Missouri followed that up with a layup to make it a three-point game, but a free throw by Shelbe Piggie and three-straight buckets by Hunter Bentley gave Washburn a 10-point lead, 16-6, at the end of the first quarter. The Bearcats made just 2-of-10 from the field while the Ichabods were 6-for-12.

The Ichabods rattled off seven unanswered points to start the second quarter with two free throws by Katie Glatczak, a three-pointer by Mia Castaneda, and a layup from Hannah Willey. Reagan Phelan hit back-to-back triples and then a layup to put Washburn in front, 35-15, with 2:12 left in the opening half. Just like the first quarter, Bentley hit a layup in the final seconds of the period to give the Ichabods a 39-17 advantage at the break.

In the first half, Washburn shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the floor and Northwest Missouri was held to a 24 percent clip. Both teams made three shots from beyond the arc, but the Ichabods were 3-for-4 while the Bearcats were 3-for-13.

Washburn continued its shooting success as it went 8-of-10 from the field in the third quarter. Hayley Thompson's jumper with nine seconds left in the frame put Washburn up, 63-35.

The Ichabods continued to lead by 20 or more points throughout the final stanza. Five of the Bearcats' nine baskets in the fourth quarter were from deep to keep it in that 20 point range. A fast break layup by Adyson Narber with just over a minute left in regulation would be the final points scored of the game for the 25 point Washburn win.

Washburn shot 50 percent or better in all four quarters and finished the contest with a 61.5 percent mark. Northwest Missouri shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the field and 10-of-30 from deep, while the Ichabods attempted a season-low seven three-pointers and drained four of those. The Ichabods dominated on the glass, out rebounding the Bearcats, 37-19. Washburn also poured in the points in the paint, outscoring NWMSU, 48-16.

Bentley led all scorers with 22 points on an impressive night shooting, going 9-for-10 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. She also pulled down a team-best six rebounds, handed out three assists, and grabbed three steals. Piggie also finished in double-figures with 12 points. Phelan and Castaneda each added in nine points and drained two triples apiece. All 13 available Ichabods saw playing time with 11 of them scoring at least two points and grabbing one rebound.

2020-21 MIAA POSTSEASON PICTURE
>> The top-eight teams in the final MIAA standings will take part in the conference tournament.
>> The tournament will take place on campus sites this season with the top-four teams hosting the quarterfinal games and the top remaining seed will host the semifinal games and the championship.
>> Central Missouri, Fort Hays State, Nebraska-Kearney, and Emporia State have already punched their ticket for postseason play.
>> UCM and FHSU are in a tie for first place.
>> Washburn is currently tied for seventh alongside Northwest Missouri in the conference scheduling index points.

WASHBURN COACHES
>> McHenry is in his 21st season at Washburn and holds an overall record of 472-162 (280-116 MIAA).
>> His .745 winning percentage ranks 21st 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.

WASHBURN HISTORY
>> Washburn women's basketball is 953-444-1 (.683) 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 and Bearcats will face again on Tuesday for a makeup game in Maryville, Mo. Tip-off in Bearcat Arena is set for 5:30 p.m.