TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn women's basketball heads north for the weekend to the Quincy Classic where they will take on McKendree at 5 p.m. on Friday and Quincy at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.

OPENING TIP

• Washburn women's basketball heads will play its final tournament of the regular season this weekend at the Quincy Classic where they will take on McKendree University and the host Hawks. 
• The Ichabods will take on the Bearcats at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 before taking on Quincy at 3 p.m. on Saturday. 
• Washburn is 0-2 on the year after falling 63-51 on the road to St. Cloud State on Nov. 9 at the Central Region Crossover. 
• They are coming off a 13-16 season in 2023-24, finishing 10th in the MIAA with an 8-14 record in the conference and advancing to the first round of the MIAA Tournament.
• The Ichabods were picked to finish 9th in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and were tabbed 10th by the coaches.  
• Both opponents enter the weekend undefeated with McKendree coming in at 1-0 and Quincy at 2-0. 

QUINCY CLASSIC

• The 2024 Quincy Classic will take place in Quincy, Ill. on the campus of Quincy University inside the Pepsi Arena. 
• The four-team tournament will consist of Quincy, McKendree and Roosevelt University. 
• Both games will be available to stream through the GLVC Network at no charge. 

BODS AND BITS

• Washburn returns eight letterwinners from last season's roster while adding seven total new faces with five incoming freshmen and two junior transfers rounding out the 15-player roster. 
• The five freshmen are flanked by four sophomores and a junior class that is six players deep. It is the first roster without a senior going back to the 1980's. 
• The Ichabods are scoring 61.5 ppg on 41.4% shooting overall and 33.3% from behind the arc.
• Opponents average 72.5 ppg on 46.7% shooting and 26.5% from deep.
• They are grabbing 32.0 rpg while giving out 11.0 apg. On the defensive end they come away with 9.5 spg and swat away 2.5 bpg.
• Washburn is 0-1 in both neutral and road games while not having played a game inside of Lee Arena this season. 
• Washburn hit six 3-pointers last time out to extend their streak of games with a made triple to 100 games.
• The match up with McKendree will be the 2nd in program history while the Ichabods will face Quincy for the sixth time. 

BLUE REPORT

• Yiibari Nwidadah is second on the team in scoring at 15.0 ppg while shooting a team-high 61.9% from the floor. On the glass she is pulling down a team-best 7.0 rpg with 3.5 of them coming on the offensive end. Defensively, she has come away with 1.5 spg and 0.5 bpg across 30.0 mpg in two starts. She scored a career-high 22 points in only 27 minutes in the season-opener against Southwest Minnesota State. The junior's field goal percentage is 64th best in the nation and third highest among MIAA players. 
• Payton Sterk paces Washburn in scoring at 16.0 ppg while shooting 41.9% overall and 37.5% from deep. She has played a team-high 35.0 mpg with two starts and also adds 4.5 rpg and 1.5 spg. The transfer is dishing out a team-best 4.0 apg as well. She is the only player to score in double figures of both games this season. Her assists per game mark is 88th best in the nation.
• Gabi Giovannetti is third on the team scoring 11.0 ppg on 42.9% shooting in 27.0 mpg. She has started both games, adding 2.0 apg with 1.5 rpg and 1.0 bpg. Her two blocks against St. Cloud State tied a career-high mark. 
• Aniah Wayne has come off the bench in both games for the Ichabods and averages 7.5 ppg while playing 20.5 mpg. She is shooting 35.7% overall and 44.4% from deep with a team-high four makes. In both games she has come away with two steals, while also recording two blocks against St. Cloud State. The junior is also pulling down 4.5 rpg.
• Madelyn Amekporfor has started both games at forward and is averaging 23.5 mpg. She chips in 4.0 ppg on 42.9% shooting and 33.3% from deep. Defensively she pulls down 1.0 rpg and 0.5 spg. 
• Brooke Gomez has played in both games making one start and playing 17.0 ppg. She is scoring 4.5 ppg on 33.3% shooting overall while going 1-1 from beyond the arc and 4-4 at the line. She also pulls down 2.0 rpg and gives out 1.0 apg. 
• Rebecca Snyder has come off the bench in both games playing 14.5 ppg. She adds 2.5 ppg on 28.6% shooting and comes away with 3.5 rpg with 1.5 on the offensive end. 
• Amaya Davison has started one game and played in both with averaging 17.0 mpg. She averages a team-high 3.0 spg after swiping five against St. Cloud State. She also comes away with 1.5 rpg and 1.5 apg.
• Nia McKenzie has played in both games off the bench averaging 7.5 mpg with 1.0 apg. 
• Liz Boyd, Willow Gideon, Lauren Luebbert and Emajin McCallop have each played on game logging less than 10 minutes. 

STAT STACKING

• Washburn has been crashing the glass and is second in the MIAA and 37th in the nation with an average of 15 offensive boards per game. 
• With 9.5 steals per game the Ichabods are fifth in the MIAA and 93rd in the nation at coming away with takeaways. 
• They are also fourth among MIAA teams at forcing turnovers, with opponents committing an average of 19.50. 
• The Ichabods are sixth among MIAA teams with a 41.4% field goal percentage as a team, 109th best in the nation.
• Washburn's three-point percentage defense ranks fourth best in the conference as they hold opponents to 26.5% shooting from beyond the arc. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 158 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is 14th in program history. She is three rebounds away from moving up to No. 12. In overall rebounds she ranks 38th in Washburn history with 405. 
• Her career rebounding average of 7.5 rpg is sixth highest in program history. With an average of 2.9 orpg she has the second highest offensive average of any Ichabod. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is tied for 29th in program history with 68 career 3-pointers made. She will move up to 28th by herself with five more triples.

HEAD COACH LORA WESTLING

• Lora Westling is in her third season as head coach at her alma mater entering the 2024-25 season. She has a 24-35 record with Washburn and is 101-113 at the DII level. 
• Westling comes back to Topeka 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 becoming a head coach Westling had stints as an assistant at Missouri-St. Louis from 2007-10 and Truman State from 2010-13.
• 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 also played one season of soccer for the Lady Blues.

WASHBURN ASSISTANT COACHES

• Assistant coaches Matt Barreiro and Katie Dalton along with student assistant Karly Neufeld round out the coaching staff.
• Barriero enters his second year on the staff. He is a 2005 graduate of Arizona Christian and got his masters from Walden University in 2012. 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 as the head coach at Central Christian College in McPherson, Kan. for two years.
• Dalton joins the staff for the 2024-25 season. She reunites with Westling who she played for at Western Colorado from 2017-22 and was a two-time All-RMAC selection. She graduated from Western Colorado in 2022. 
• She is originally from Magnolia, Texas and has spent time as a head rehabilitation technician and a physical therapy technician.
• Karly Neufeld joins the coaching staff after spending the 2023-24 season on the Ichabod roster.  

LAST TIME OUT

St. Cloud State 63, Washburn 51 (November 9, 2024)
ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Washburn fell 63-51 in the final game of the Central Region Crossover on Saturday afternoon to the host St. Cloud State to wrap up the weekend. The Ichabods will return to play next week at the Quincy Classic against McKendree at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.  

A 3-pointer 20 seconds into the game by Brooke Gomez put Washburn (0-2) up early. The next five points came from the Huskies (2-0) as the Ichabods were held off the board until the 5:51 mark when Yiibari Nwidadah broke free for a layup. Eight first quarter turnovers prevented Washburn from getting in rhythm, still, they trailed just 15-11 after 10 minutes.  

Scoring came quick for both sides to begin the second, five straight Ichabod points came from Gabi Giovannetti to pull within one at the 8:13 mark. St. Cloud State was able to push the lead back up to six but back-to-back buckets by Nwidadah brought it back down to two. The Ichabods shot 6-13 (46.15%) in the quarter to keep the deficit at two points going into halftime at 28-26.  

Coming out of the break a layup by Payton Sterk made it 33-31 with 5:27 left in the quarter. From that point on the Huskies outscored Washburn 14-2 to end the quarter shooting 7-16 overall with three triples. Heading into the fourth the deficit was the largest of the game at 47-33.  

Sterk and Aniah Wayne each knocked down 3-pointers to begin the final quarter. The lead was shrunk down to five shortly after, this time after Madelyn Amekporfor connected from deep. After a timeout the Huskies settled in, scoring the next six points. Washburn was unable to cut the lead down to any lower than nine the rest of the way as the hosts held on for a 63-51 win.  

The Ichabods shot 19-48 (39.6%) overall and were 6-21 from beyond the arc. St. Cloud State was 25-57 (43.9%) from the floor and 6-17 from deep. Washburn turned the ball over 28 times leading to 25 points for the Huskies while the Ichabods managed 15 points on 19 giveaways.  

St. Cloud State also had narrow advantages on the boards, 33-29 and in assists, 16-12.  

Payton Sterk led all scorers with 14 points while adding six assists and a pair of steals. Yiibari Nwidadah had eight points and nine rebounds while Gabi Giovannetti had nine points.  

Jada Eggebrecht had 12 points and four assists for the Huskies. Alana Zarneke was the only other player to finish in double figures with 10.  

ABOUT MCKENDREE BEARCATS

• The Bearcats are 1-0 on the year after opening the season with an 88-55 victory over Mount Mercy University on Nov. 8.
• McKendree was picked to finish third in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll. 
• A year ago the Bearcats went 20-9 overall and 16-6 inside the GLVC. They went 1-2 in neutral court games. 
• McKendree is averaging 88.0 ppg on 52.6% shooting while allowing 55.0 ppg. They pull down 35.0 rpg and dish out 14.0 apg, both higher than opponents. 
• The Bearcats have the 7th best scoring margin in the nation, are 5th in 3-point percentage at 50.0% from deep and are 6th in field goal percentage. Their bench has scored 48.0 ppg, good for 4th most in the nation. 
• Baylie Parks averages a team-high 19.0 ppg while shooting 63.6% from the floor and 50.0% from deep. She also leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 rpg and dishes out 2.0 apg across only 22 mpg with one start. She is 66th in the nation in ppg and has the 47th best field goal percentage. 
• Tessa Crawford is scoring 17.0 ppg on 85.7% shooting in just 13.0 mpg this season. She is shooting 100% from beyond the arc and at the line while coming away with 2.0 spg on the defensive end. Her field goal percentage is the third best in the nation. 
• Clare Breden is scoring 15.0 ppg on 56.6% shooting while adding 4.0 apg and coming away with 2.0 spg. She has started one game and is playing 27.0 mpg. 
• Maci Meyer is scoring 17.0 ppg in just 22 mpg while shooting 55.6% from the floor. She is also shooting 60.0% from deep and is averaging 4.0 spg, 19th most in the nation. 

HEAD COACH KARI KERKHOFF

• Is in her 10th season at the helm of the McKendree program where she has a 103-141 record. 
• Was named the 2023-24 GLVC Chuck Mallender Coach of the Year. 
• Kerkhoff joined McKendree after serving as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for three seasons.
• Prior to her three seasons at SIUE, Kerkhoff served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bradley University for six seasons.
• Kerkhoff graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2002 with her B.S. in Secondary Education specializing in Physical/Health Education, and was a four-year letter-winner for the Mavericks. 

SERIES WITH MCKENDREE

• Washburn has won the only meeting in the all-time series between the two teams.  
• The Ichabods claimed a 80-64 victory in the Quincy Classic last season. Aniah Wayne had 16 points to lead Washburn while Aubree Dewey had eight points and nine assists.

ABOUT THE QUINCY HAWKS

• Quincy is off to a 2-0 start on the 2024-25 season after defeating Cedarville University on the road 75-55 last time out on Nov. 9.
• The Hawks were picked to finish seventh in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll. 
• A year ago Quincy went 10-18 overall and 9-13 inside the GLVC. They were 4-12 inside the Pepsi Arena, 6-5 on the road and 0-1 in neutral court games. 
• The Hawks average 73.5 ppg on 42.7% shooting while allowing 62.0 ppg to opponents. They pull down 43.0 rpg while dishing out 16.0 apg. 
• With a rebound margin of +15.0 they have the 11th best margin in the nation. They also get to the line, averaging 19.0 made free throws per game, 21st most nationally. In assists per game they average the 41st most. 
• Taylor Haase averages a team-high 16.5 ppg on 58.8% from the field while coming off the bench in both games playing 23.0 mpg. With 8.0 rpg she also leads the team on the boards. She adds 1.5 apg, 1.0 spg and 1.0 bpg. With 5.5 orpg she is 11th in the nation, her field goal percentage is the 65th best nationally. 
• Nicole McDermott has started both games playing a team-high 33.5 mpg while scoring 13.5 ppg on 42.9% shooting. She snags 6.5 rpg and gives out 3.5 apg as well. 
• Mariann Blass is also scoring 13.5 ppg on 45.6% shooting and 47.6% from deep. She has started both games while playing 32.5 mpg. She is coming away with 2.5 spg and also grabs 2.0 rpg. Her three-point percentage is 58th best in the nation while making three per game, 31st most nationally. 
• Karsyn Stratton is the fourth member of the team in double figure scoring at 11.5 ppg on 50.0% shooting. She is playing 31.0 mpg while starting in both games. She also dishes out a team-high 4.0 apg and adds 5.0 rpg. 

HEAD COACH COURTNEY BOYD

• Is in her second season as the head coach of Quincy where she has a 12-18 record. 
• Became the thirteenth women's basketball coach at Quincy University after a successful six-year tenure at Clarke University. Boyd went 155-42 with the Pride, leading the team to five NAIA National Tournament berths and finishing with a NAIA National Championship ring.
• Prior to joining Clarke University, Boyd served as the Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
• Earned her bachelor's degree in education from Dixie State University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Augusta University. She was a two-year starting point guard and team captain for the Dixie State women's basketball team.

SERIES WITH QUINCY

• Washburn is 5-0 in the all-time series including a 3-0 record in Quincy, Ill. 
• Last season the Ichabods won a 97-62 contest at the Quincy classic led by 17 points each by Yiibari Nwidadah and Aubree Dewey. 

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 995-496-1 (.667) all-time and are in the 56th 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

• Washburn will continue non-conference play against William Jewell College in Liberty on Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
• The Ichabods will play inside Lee Arena for the first time at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25 against Lincoln University. 
• MIAA play begins on the road against Nebraska Kearney on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. 
• The MIAA Basketball Championship Tournament will be held in Kansas City, Mo. at the Municipal Auditorium from March 5-9.