TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn women's basketball starts a four-game swing away from home on Thursday evening against No. 19 Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m.
OPENING TIP
- Washburn women's basketball begins a quartet of games on the road this Thursday against No. 19 Fort Hays State.
- The Ichabods will face the Tigers at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25 in Hays, Kan.
- Washburn is coming off a 75-62 win at home over No. 25 Pittsburg State on Saturday.
- WU is now 11-6 overall on the year and has gone 6-5 in the MIAA. With the win Washburn has matched its win total from last season.
- They have gone 7-1 at home, 3-4 on the road and 1-1 in neutral court games.
- The Ichabods 2022-23 season came to an end with in the regular season with a ninth place finish in the MIAA after going 11-17 overall and 7-15 in the conference.
- Washburn returns six players from last seasons roster including three players who started in at least 50% of games. The Ichabods round out the roster with five freshmen and one transfer.
- Fort Hays State is 14-3 overall to start the year and are 8-3 in the MIAA after defeating Nebraska-Kearney 70-68 on the road last Saturday.
- The Ichabods were picked to finish in eighth place in the MIAA Preseason Coaches poll and were slotted at 10th in the media vote. They are currently 6th in the conference.
BODS AND BITS
- As a team Washburn averages 73.4 ppg on 42.3% shooting from the floor and 34.3% from deep.
- Opponents average 62.9 ppg on 38.4% shooting and 27.6% from behind the arc.
- WU is shooting 70.9% from the line this year going 261-368 overall while opponents are 219-297, for a 73.7% clip.
- The Ichabods are pulling down 40.6 rpg while holding opponents to just 34.2 rpg. They also average 12.1 apg while opponents only average 10.5.
- Washburn extended its three point streak to 84 games with eight triples on Wednesday.
- The 12 player roster for Washburn is the smallest roster since the 2006-07 roster which also featured 12 players.
THE BLUE CREW
- Aubree Dewey leads the Ichabod scoring attack at 16.1 ppg on 46.5% shooting from the floor. Dewey dishes out a team-high 4.9 apg and pulls down 5.4 rpg from the point guard position, second most on the team. She leads the team playing 33.5 and snags 1.8 spg.
- Yiibari Nwidadah is second on the team averaging 12.8 ppg and averages a double double pulling down a team-high 10.1 rpg with 3.8 on the offensive end. She also leads WU in shooting at 54.9% from the floor and is doing so in just 24.9 mpg.
- Aniah Wayne is averaging double figures, scoring 10.2 ppg this season in 26.7 mpg with 16 starts. She also pulls down 3.3 rpg and is shooting 35.1% from behind the arc, leading the Ichabods with 39 triples.
- Mackenzie Gamble has made 11 starts and is averaging 22.7 mpg. She is scoring 6.4 ppg, dishing 1.5 apg with 2.8 rpg. She leads the team shooting 40.8% from deep and is 88.9% from the free throw line.
- Gabi Giovannetti is scoring 6.2 ppg in 15.8 mpg off the bench in 11 games. She has averages of 38.3% from the floor and is second on the team shooting 39.0% from deep.
- Lakyn Schieferecke has started seven games for Washburn playing 20.2 mpg. She is averaging 4.9 ppg on 40.3% shooting and is pulling down 3.5 rpg .
- Amaya Davison is averaging 6.0 ppg off the bench on the year shooting 35.6% from the floor with 2.1 rpg in 19.9 mpg.
- Madelyn Amekporfor has made 10 starts averaging 17.6 mpg and is scoring 5.8 ppg on 41.8% shooting with 1.0 steals per game.
- Liz Boyd is averaging 5.3 ppg in just 11.8 mpg while shooting 45.2% from the field. She's also pulling down 3.2 rpg off the bench.
- Rebecca Snyder is scoring 1.1 ppg with 1.7 rpg playing 7.9 mpg with appearances in 16 games and six starts.
- Nia McKenzie has made one start and appeared in 15 games playing 5.7 mpg and scoring 1 ppg.
STACKING THE STATS
- WU is 55th in the nation in scoring margin as they have outscored teams by an average of 10.4 points per game.
- Washburn is 68th nationally in field goal percentage at 42.3. That number is good for sixth among MIAA teams.
- Washburn is crashing the glass and is 33rd nationally in rebound advantage pulling down 6.4 more boards per game than opponents, third in the MIAA.
- The Ichabods are 32nd in the nation in efficiency from deep shooting 34.6% for the year, the fifth best mark in the MIAA. They are 59th in the nation averaging 6.9 3-pointers per game.
- Washburn is fourth in the conference and 61st nationally in defending the three point line holding opponents to 27.6% shooting from behind the arc.
- WU is first in the MIAA and 27th nationally shooting 21.65 free throws per game. They are 26th in the nation knocking down 15.35 shots from the charity stripe per contest.
- Aubree Dewey ranks 25th in the nation in assists per game with 4.9, that number is second among MIAA players. She is 20th nationally in total assists with 83.
- She is also fifth in the conference in field goal percentage at 46.5%.
- Yiibari Nwidadah is first in the MIAA and 21st nationally averaging 10.1 rpg. She is tied for 10th nationally and first in the conference with eight double doubles on the year.
- Aniah Wayne is third in the conference among qualified shooters in total 3-pointers made, threes per game, and three point percentage. She has made 39 triples on the year.
- Mackenzie Gamble is 10th in the conference in total 3-pointers made with 29.
MILESTONE MARKERS
HEAD COACH LORA WESTLING
- Former Washburn women's basketball student-athlete Lora Westling is in year two as the head coach in Topeka for the 2023-24 season.
- 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
- The Ichabods will have three fresh faces on the sidelines with an all new assistant coaching staff in year two of the Lora Westling era.
- Matt Barreiro and Monique M. Scott join the staff as assistant coaches while Damiel Fulp is a volunteer assistant in his first season with WU.
- Barriero is a 2005 graduate of Arizona Christian and got his masters from Walden University in 2005. He played basketball at both Washington State and Arizona Christian.
- He has several years of head coaching experience with seven years at the helm at The King's University in Canada and most recently spending the last two years as the head coach at Central Christian College in McPherson, Kan.
- Scott is a 2019 graduate of Xavier University and received her masters degree from Liberty University in 2022.
- While at Xavier she worked as a manager on the women's basketball teams and has been a coach and teacher at the prep ranks.
- Fulp is a 2020 graduate of The King's University where he played after transferring from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
- He has experience working and attending basketball camps and conferences to develop training methods.
LAST TIME OUT
Washburn 75, Pittsburg State 62 (Jan. 20, 2024)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn used a strong second quarter to take an early lead over No. 25 Pittsburg State and held on down the stretch to win 75-62 Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods leave Lee Arena and head to face Fort Hays State on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
Offenses for both teams were scoring well early, Washburn (11-6, 6-5 MIAA) created some separation with a 9-0 run sparked by a 3-pointer from Mackenzie Gamble and capped off by a layup from Aubree Dewey with 4:32 left in the quarter. The Gorillas (12-5, 6-5 MIAA) reeled off the next nine points and were in front 18-17 heading into the second quarter.
Pitt State created a four point lead in the second quarter before Washburn's offense got going. The Ichabods shot 7-13 overall in the second quarter and added additional scoring going 8-8 from the free throw line. After the Gorillas went up 28-27 with 5:07 left Washburn scored the next 12 points over four minutes of action, capped off by a 3-pointer from Dewey. That would be the final lead change for the game with the Ichabods controlling a 41-32 lead going into halftime.
Pittsburg State came out of halftime scoring, and was able to get the lead down to just three points at the 3:51 mark in the quarter. A 3-pointer by Aniah Wayne settled the run down and sparked a 7-0 burst from Ichabods. Both teams scored an even 13 points in the third quarter to keep Washburn's lead at nine heading into the fourth.
Once again the Gorillas had a quick start to a quarter, cutting the lead down to five with 7:19 left. Every score for the visitors was answered by Washburn, a layup by Yiibari Niwdadah with four minutes left kicked off a 10-0 run for the home team which was capped off by a steal and score by Madelyn Amekporfor. The Ichabods held on down the stretch, pushing the lead up to as many as 17 before winning 75-62.
Washburn shot 43.1% for the game while going 17-20 (85%) at the line. They held the Gorillas to 25-61 shooting and the visitors shot just 5-20 behind the arc. The Ichabods reeled off 18 fast break points while holding Pitt State scoreless in fast break opportunities. Washburn also won the turnover battle 20 to 15.
Aubree Dewey scored over 20 for the third time in her last four contests going for 23 on 8-14 shooting . Yiibari Nwidadah was strong on both ends with a 15 point and 14 rebound double double along with a pair of blocks and steals. Aniah Wayne knocked down four triples on her way to scoring 14 points.
Karenna Gerber led the Gorillas with 18 points on 7-14 shooting, Macie Mays had 15 and went 7-9 from the field.
ABOUT THE FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS
- The Tigers are 14-3 on the year and 8-3 in MIAA play after a 70-68 road victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Jan. 20. They are ranked No. 19 in the latest WBCA rankings.
- Fort Hays State went 20-12 overall in 2022-23 with an 14-8 mark in the MIAA, advancing to the semifinals of the MIAA Championship Tournament.
- On the year the Tigers are averaging 69.2 points on 40.8% shooting overall and 34.4% from deep.
- Opponents are averaging 55.2 points on 36.9% shooting and 26.4% from behind the arc.
- FHSU is 4-2 inside of Gross Memorial Coliseum this season.
- The Tigers have strong advantages on the boards and in the assist column this season as they out-rebound teams by 4 rpg and average 5.2 more apg than opponents.
- Katie Wagner averages 16.4 ppg on 46.3% from the field to lead Fort Hays State in scoring. She also connects on 48.6% of her triples and pulls down a team-high 8.2 rpg along with 2.4 spg.
- Olivia Hollenbeck does a little bit of everything averaging 11.1 ppg on a team-best 49.3% from the floor while grabbing 5.9 rpg, swatting away 1.6 bpg and grabbing a steal per contest.
- Sydney Golladay is tied for third on the team in scoring chipping in 7.1 ppg while leading the Tigers at 3.0 apg.
- Emma Ruddle averages 7.1 ppg and as connected on a team-high 24 3-pointers at a 36.9% clip.
- Wagner, Hollenbeck, Golladay and Ruddle have started every game for Fort Hays State.
HEAD COACH TALIA KAHRS
- is in her 1st season as the head coach at Fort Hays State in 2023-24.
- She elevated into the head coaching role after 11 years as Assistant Coach. Kahrs has been associated with the women's basketball program for 15 consecutive years
- She played for the Tigers from 2008-11, served as a student assistant coach for a year in 2011-12, then served as the assistant coach for Tony Hobson from 2012 up until his retirement from coaching in 2023
- She earned a bachelor's degree in Health and Human Performance with an emphasis in Teaching and Coaching from Fort Hays State University in 2012 before completing a master of science degree in Health and Human Performance at FHSU in 2015
SERIES WITH FORT HAYS STATE
- Saturday will be the 87th meeting all-time between the Washburn and Fort Hays State with the Ichabods leading the series 47-39
- The series began Feb. 20, 1969 with a 34-24 neutral court loss for the Ichabods.
- The Ichabods are 22-20 against the Tigers in Hays.
- Last season Fort Hays State won the only contest between the two 53-46 in Topeka.
- The Tigers have won the last seven games in the series.
LAST TIME VS FORT HAYS STATE
Fort Hays State 53, Washburn 46 (January 18, 2023)
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Ichabods started the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game, but Fort Hays State regained the lead and held on for the 53-46 win in Lee Arena on Wednesday evening. Washburn will host No. 16-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Fort Hays State (14-6, 9-3 MIAA) broke an early 2-all tie with a 6-0 run, but went scoreless the last 3:46 of the quarter while Washburn answered with six points of its own to level the score at 8-8 at the end of the first.
The Tigers scored the first four points of the second and led for the entire frame, shooting 57 percent from the field and extending their lead to nine, 24-15, at halftime.
After the break, Washburn (7-9, 3-7 MIAA) trimmed the deficit to five at the 7:03 and 5:33 marks before Fort Hays State used a 9-3 spurt to go up by a game-high 11, 39-28. Gabi Artis drained a three-pointer just before the buzzer to make it a 39-31 game at the end of three.
The Ichabods carried that momentum into the fourth quarter and ripped off a 9-0 run over the first 3:48 to take their first lead of the contest. The Tigers reclaimed the lead with a layup on the ensuing possession and stayed in front for the remainder of the game. Washburn got within two, 46-44, on a jumper by Artis with 1:41 to go, but the Ichabods would get no closer.
The Ichabods finished the night shooting 29.3 and the Tigers shot 36.8 percent. Washburn was 3-of-19 from behind the arc and Fort Hays was 2-for-11 from deep. Both teams made nine free throws and Washburn made one more attempt, taking 14 trips to the charity stripe. The Ichabods had a 47-33 advantage in rebounds and scored 11 second chance points on 18 offensive boards.
Artis, a freshman, tied her season-high in scoring with 16 points and added seven rebounds. Fellow freshman Yiibari Nwidadah recorded the first double-double of the season for Washburn as she racked up a season-best 13 boards, seven of which were offensive, and 11 points in 23 minutes of action.
Katie Wagner was the lone Fort Hays State player in double-figures as she finished with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
WASHBURN HISTORY
- Washburn women's basketball is 993-484-1 (.672) all-time and are in the 55th 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.
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Ichabods begin a head north to take on Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday Jan. 27 at 2 p.m.
- Senior day for Washburn will be on March 2 against Emporia State
- The MIAA Championship Tournament begins March 6 in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
