TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn women's basketball will play two road games this week, first at Missouri Southern on Thursday evening. Tip-off in Joplin, Mo. is set for 5:30 p.m.

OPENING TIP

• The Ichabods moved back to above .500 on the season (7-6, 3-4 MIAA) after defeating Lincoln, 73-59, on Saturday.
• Missouri Southern (12-4, 4-4 MIAA) won the first 11 games of the season, but has now lost three of its last four with two of those losses being by three or fewer points.
• The Ichabods have played only three road games this year and are 2-1.
• MSSU is 6-2 on its home court so far this season.
• The Ichabods and Lions played each other three times last season with MSSU winning all three matchups.
• Washburn's final game of the 2021-22 season was against Missouri Southern in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinal ... the Lions won, 62-54.
• Last season, Missouri Southern (24-7, 19-3 MIAA) was crowned MIAA regular season co-champions and were picked as the favorite in the 2022-23 MIAA coaches preseason poll.
• The Ichabods were voted 10th in this season's conference preseason poll.

BODS AND ENDS

• Washburn is averaging 56.9 ppg and shoots 38.8 percent from the field.
• The Ichabods are second in the league and 17th in the nation in fewest points allowed per game as they hold opponents to 55.6 ppg.
• This season, the Ichabods are 5-0 when scoring 60+ points.
• Washburn extended its three-point streak to 56-consecutive games after making 6-of-14 against Lincoln.
• The Ichabods have had six or more three-pointers in seven of the 13 games.
• Washburn made 50 percent from the field for the first time this season against the Blue Tigers ... the last time WU shot 50 percent or higher was on Feb. 22, 2022 against Northeastern State, finishing the game with a 50.9 clip.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

• The Ichabod freshmen had an impressive showing in the 73-59 win over Lincoln with three of the newcomers scoring in double-figures and setting new season-highs.
• The trio of Natalia Figueroa, Gabi Artis, and Yiibari Nwidadah combined for 44 points in the game.
• Washburn held a 35-24 lead at the break and those three freshmen were responsible for 31 of WU's points.
• Figueroa was 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and hit all four of those in the second quarter ... she finished with 16 points.
• Artis also had 16 points after going 6-of-10 from the field with a pair of three-pointers and free throws ... she also tied a season-high in rebounds (seven) and steals (two) while dishing out a season-best five assists.
• Nwidadah was also 6-of-10 from the floor and racked up 12 points in 15 minutes.
• Four of the five freshmen on the roster average double-digit minutes on the court this season with Artis and Figueroa averaging 22 to 28 mpg.

THE WU CREW

• Aubree Dewey leads the Ichabods in scoring, assists, and minutes played this season.
• Dewey is scoring 10.8 ppg and has led or tied for the team-lead in assists in nine of the 13 games played and ranks eighth in the MIAA with 3.8 apg. She is also seventh in the conference at 31.8 mpg.
• Figueroa is tied with Dewey for the most double-figure point games so far this season with six ... overall, Figueroa averages 9.5 ppg and has made a team-high 25 three-pointers.
• Macy Doebele chips in 7.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and is second on the team with 1.7 apg. Her 81.4 free throw percentage (35-for-43) is the fifth-best among MIAA players.
• At forward, Emma Chapman has started seven-straight games and adds 7.0 ppg and is tied with Doebele with 5.2 rpg.
• Mackenzie Gamble is second on the squad with 20 three-pointers this season and overall averages 6.8 ppg.
• Artis has scored 11 or more points in three of the last four games ... she averages 6.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
• Nwidadah finished in double-figure scoring in both games last week to bump up her average to 5.2 ppg to go with 4.3 rpg ... she has made 21-of-38 from the floor in 10 games for a team-best 55.3 shooting percentage.
• Off the bench, Lauren Cassaday and Amaya Davison average 2.3 ppg and 2.0 ppg, respectively ... the duo has also added 11 and 12 assists.
• Lakyn Schieferecke has played in all 13 games and started in the last four ... she averages 11.3 minutes per game, 1.6 rpg, and 1.0 ppg.

HEAD COACH LORA WESTLING

• Former Washburn women's basketball student-athlete Lora Westling has returned to Topeka and is in her first season as head coach in 2022-23.
• Westling returns to her alma mater after six seasons at Western Colorado, where she compiled a record of 77-78 and led the team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament selections – the first two in program history.
• Her overall victories is second on the Western all-time list and her 63 RMAC wins is tied for second in program history.
• Prior to Western Colorado, Westling spent three seasons as the head coach at the Division III program, Illinois College.
• Before accepting the head job at Illinois College, Westling was the top assistant at Truman State from 2010-13.
• Westling's first full-time position came at University of Missouri-St. Louis where she was the top assistant from 2007-10.
• She got her start in coaching at Washburn, where she served as a graduate assistant for the women's basketball and women's soccer teams.
• Westling was a standout member of Washburn's women's basketball team from 2001-05 and helped the Lady Blues to the school's first NCAA Division II national championship in 2005.
• She is currently sixth in games played (132), sixth in career three-pointers made (144), 10th in assists (299), and 14th in three-point field goal percentage (.363).
• She also played one season of soccer for the Lady Blues.

WASHBURN ASSISTANT COACHES

• Coach Westling brought in a new coaching staff for her first season and chose J'nae Squires-Horton and Will Marchino as her assistants.
• Squires-Horton served as a graduate assistant at the University of Colorado Springs-Colorado.
• As a student-athlete, Squires-Horton was a three-year member of the MSU Denver basketball team and earned all-RMAC second team honors twice.
• Following her graduation at MSU Denver with a degree in Journalism, Squires-Horton played one season in Latvia with the Latvian Basketball League's SBK Liepaja/LSSS.
• Marchino spend the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Seward County Community College where he oversaw recruiting and scouting.
• Prior to his time in Liberal, Kansas, Marchino was an assistant coach for Grand View University.
• Before making the jump to the college ranks, Marchino was the varsity girls basketball head coach at Iowa Christian Academy.
• Marchino is a 2008 graduate from the University of Iowa where he received his degree in Health and Sports Studies.

WASHBURN'S LAST TIME OUT
Washburn 73. Lincoln 59 (Jan. 7, 2023)
TOPEKA, Kan. – Three Washburn freshmen finished in double-digit scoring for a combined 44 points as the Ichabods led from start to finish in the 73-59 win over Lincoln on Saturday afternoon.

The Ichabods (7-6, 3-4 MIAA) started the game hot, scoring on each of their first three possessions making 3-of-3 from the field. Washburn led by as many as seven midway through the frame before Lincoln (3-11, 1-7 MIAA) used a 6-0 run to make it a one point score at 10-9. Washburn created a little space again with a 4-0 run to end the quarter in front, 14-9.

Washburn increased its lead to double-digits in the second quarter as the Ichabods made 7-of-12 from the field including 5-of-7 from deep. Washburn held a 17-13 advantage when Gabi Artis sparked a 13-0 burst and scored the first seven of those points herself. Natalia Figueroa capped off that run with back-to-back three-pointers. At the break, the Ichabods led 35-24 and the Washburn freshmen trio of Artis, Figueroa, and Yiibari Nwidadah combined for 31 of the team's first half points.

The Ichabod offense continued its success to start the second half and shot 53.9 percent from the field in the third and increased their lead to 18 points, 55-37, heading into the final quarter.

A made jumper by Aubree Dewey pushed Washburn's lead to a game-high 20 points early in the fourth. The Blue Tigers slowly cut away at the deficit and made 8-of-17 (47 percent) from the floor to pull within nine points with just under a minute left in regulation, but they would get no closer as the Ichabods scored seven of the final nine points of the game to close out the double-digit win.

Washburn finished the afternoon shooting a season-high 50 percent from the field while Lincoln shot at a 40 percent clip. From three-point range, the Ichabods were 6-of-14 and the Blue Tigers were 4-for-7. Washburn outrebounded Lincoln, 35-30.

Four Ichabods finished in double figures with three of those being freshmen players setting new season-highs. Artis made 6-of-10 from the field to score a season-high 16 points while adding a team-best seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Figueroa also had a season-best 16 points and made 4-of-7 from deep. Nwidadah totaled 12 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of play. Macy Doebele rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points, making all four of her shot attempts and all three of her free throws.

There were also four players from Lincoln finished in double-figure scoring, led by Le'Yanna McGinnis' 15 points. She also led the team with eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

ABOUT THE MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS

• Missouri Southern is coming off one of its best seasons in program history ... the Lions went 24-7 (19-3 MIAA) and were MIAA regular season co-champions, their first-ever regular season title, and reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time.
• The Lions picked up where they left off to start this season and ranked as high as No. 4 in the WBCA poll and No. 2 in the D2CCA poll, both program-bests ... they were ranked No. 11 in the Jan. 3 poll, but fell out of the top-25 and are receiving votes after two losses last week.
• Through 16 games, the Lions average 72.1 ppg while holding opponents to 58.1 ppg ... MSSU also leads the league in blocks with 4.38 bpg.
• The team is also leading all of Division II with a 1.42 assist/turnover ratio and is third in the nation in turnovers per game (11.4 tpg).
• Reigning MIAA Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year Lacy Stokes continues to help the team in all areas and ranks in the top-10 nationally in four categories.
• In addition to scoring 16.4 ppg (sixth in MIAA), L. Stokes leads DII with a 4.60 assist/turnover ratio, is No. 7 in assists (92), No. 9 in assists per game (5.8), and No. 8 in steals (47).
• Madi Stoke leads the team in blocks (2.0 bpg/first in MIAA and seventh in DII) and in rebounds (8.1 rpg/fifth in MIAA ... she also contributes 9.1 ppg.
• Kryslyn Jones is in her first year at Missouri Southern after transferring from Texas A&M Kingsville ... she is second on the team in scoring with 9.8 ppg has made a team-high 29 three-pointers shooting 38.7 percent from deep.

HEAD COACH RONNIE RESSEL

• Ronnie Ressel was named the 2021-22 MIAA Coach of the Year and is in his seventh season at the helm of the Lions' bench where has compiled a record of 80-89 heading into this season.
• He is 4-6 against Washburn.
• He has been a part of the Missouri Southern athletic department for 21 seasons, serving as an assistant for both the men's and women's programs.
• Prior to joining the Missouri Southern coaching staff, he was the head coach at Rend Lake College and was named the Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1996.
• Ressel was a two-time letterwinner for Missouri Southern and led the team in assists both seasons.

SERIES WITH MISSOURI SOUTHERN

• Washburn won the very first meeting against Missouri Southern, 30-19, on Feb. 2, 1971.
• Although the Ichabods have lost the last four in a row to the Lions, WU still leads the all-time series, 53-33.
• When playing the Lions in Joplin, Washburn is 20-19.
• The Ichabods have lost the last two games at Missouri Southern.
• Washburn's last road win at MSSU was on Dec. 7, 2019 when it posted a 83-76 victory.

WASHBURN'S LAST TIME AGAINST MISSOURI SOUTHERN
Missouri Southern 62, Washburn 54 (March 3, 2022)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 9 seed Washburn women's basketball team battled to the end, but saw its MIAA postseason run came to an end in the quarterfinals with a 62-54 loss to the No. 1 seed Missouri Southern on Thursday. The Ichabods' season comes to a close with an overall record of 14-16.

The Lions (23-5) extend their winning streak to 16 games and will advance to the tournament semifinal on Saturday.

Missouri Southern jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the game before the Ichabods answered with eight points of their own to level the score with 4:15 on the clock. Lauren Cassaday hit a jumper to knot up the game again at 10, but the Lions made one more basket in the frame to lead 12-10 after the opening 10 minutes.

The Lions led by nine with 3:01 left in the second period when the Ichabods started to chip away at the deficit with a 6-0 spurt to pull within 23-20 at the break.

Washburn carried its momentum into the start of the second half with an 8-2 run and took its first lead of the contest after a jump shot by Nuria Barrientos to make it 28-27 at the 6:49 mark. Missouri Southern found its grove from three-point distance and came storming back with an 18-2 burst to take a 45-30 lead with 93 seconds remaining in the third. Barrientos added a spark for the Ichabods again as she scored all seven points of a 7-0 Ichabod run to close out the quarter to cut Missouri Southern's lead to 45-37.

Trailing 52-39 with 7:18 left in regulation, Washburn clawed its way back into the game with nine unanswered points to get within 52-48 with 4:32 on the clock. A Hunter Bentley jump shot with just under two minutes left made it a three-point affair, but the Ichabods were unable to score again as the Lions put the game away with a three-pointer with 28 seconds left to push their lead to 60-54 before hitting a pair of free throws.

Washburn finished the afternoon shooting 37.9 percent from the floor while holding Missouri Southern to a 35.7 clip. The Ichabods connected on 3-of-15 from three-point range and the Lions made 6-of-20 from deep. MSSU had the edge on the glass, outrebounding Washburn, 42-35.

Bentley led Washburn in scoring for the 21st time this season as she finished the game with 18 points. Barrientos made 6-of-11 from the field to total 14 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Lacy Stokes led all scorers with 22 points and added five assists.

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 978-467-1 (.677) all-time and are in the 54th 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 closes out the road trip Saturday afternoon at Pittsburg State. Tip-off against the Gorillas is slated for 1:30 p.m. in John Lance Arena.