TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn women's basketball officially begins the 2024-25 regular season with a pair of games in St. Cloud, Minn. for the Central Region Crossover. They will face Southwest Minnesota State to open the season on Friday at 4 p.m. and the next day they will take on the host team, St. Cloud State at 4 p.m. as well. 
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn women's basketball heads north to begin the regular season at the Central Region Crossover where they will face Southwest Minnesota State and St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minn. 
• The Ichabods will take on the Mustangs at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 before taking on the host Huskies at 4 p.m. on Saturday. 
• Washburn is 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.  
• Southwest Minnesota State and St. Cloud State enter the new season with similar outlooks as they were picked back-to-back in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll at 4th and 5th respectively. 

CENTRAL REGION CROSSOVER

• The 2024 Central Region Crossover will take place in St. Cloud, Minnesota on the campus of St. Cloud State University. 
• Washburn and Central Oklahoma represent the MIAA while Southwest Minnesota State and St. Cloud State represent the NSIC. 
• All games will be played inside Halenbeck Hall. 
• Both games will be available to stream through the NSIC Network at no charge. 

LET'S GET IT STARTED

• Washburn is 41-14 all-time in season openers after falling 63-58 to Southwestern Oklahoma State last season. 
• The Ichabods' most recent season-opening victory came in the 2022-23 season at home against the Bulldogs with a 71-55 win.

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. 
• Among the returning group the Ichabods will have 70.7% of last season's rebounding return (801 rebounds) along with 61.6% of the scoring (1,209 points).
• A season ago Washburn averaged 67.6 ppg while shooting 39.6% from the floor, 29.9% from deep and 69.7% from the line. They averaged 39.1 rpg to go along with 11.2 apg and allowed an average 65.1 ppg. 
• In 2023-24 the Ichabods had splits of 9-4 at home, 3-10 on the road and 1-2 in neutral court games. 
• Washburn hit a three-pointer in every game last season to extend its streak with a made triple to 98 games.
• Washburn wrapped up its preseason schedule with a 81-54 loss at Kansas on Nov. 1. 
• Both contests against the Mustangs and Huskies will be the 2nd meeting between the two programs all-time. 

BACK IN BLUE

• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the group of eight Washburn returners coming off her first All-MIAA season earning honorable mention honors as a sophomore. The Olathe native was second on the team averaging 12.4 ppg while shooting a team-high 54.8% from the field. She also was tops on the team pulling down 9.1 rpg and turning away 0.9 bpg. She appeared in 28 games making 27 starts and playing 24.9 mpg. Her rebounding average was 2nd best in the MIAA and 43rd highest in the nation. She was fifth in the conference with 11 double-doubles.
• Aniah Wayne was the third leading scorer for the Ichabods a season ago during her first year in Topeka. As a sophomore she averaged 7.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg and made a team-high 45 total 3-pointers. She played in all 29 games, making 21 starts and averaging 23.2 mpg. Among the MIAA she was 11th in three pointers per game. Her 12 games with multiple 3-pointers led the team. 
• Gabi Giovannetti led Washburn shooting 37.0% from behind the arc a season ago while contributing 6.5 ppg on 38.0% shooting along with 2.1 rph and and 1.0 apg. She connected on 30 3-pointers in her sophomore season while playing 18.5 mpg across 22 games with six starts. She had two games with more than 20 points.  
• Amaya Davison scored 6.0 ppg with 2.4 rpg and 0.8 apg a season ago while shooting 34.4% from the floor. The Des Moines native played in all 29 games making six starts and averaged 22.4 mpg. She had three games scoring in double figures. 
• Madelyn Amekporfor chipped in 4.6 ppg a season ago shooting 41.1% from the floor and 70.0% from the line. She pulled down 2.0 rpg while making 0.8 spg and 0.5 bpg. During her freshman season she played in all 29 games, making 13 starts and playing 16.6 mpg. 
• Nia McKenzie returns for her sophomore season after playing in 27 games and making five starts a year ago. She averaged 2.2 ppg while shooting 36.1% and pulled down 2.6 rpg. 
• Liz Boyd scored 4.5 ppg on 43.3% shooting as a freshman while securing 2.8 rpg with 0.6 apg. She appeared in 28 games off the bench while averaging 11.3 mpg. 
• Rebecca Snyder played in 19 games and made six starts logging 8.5 mpg as a freshman. She scored 1.0 ppg with 1.6 rpg and 0.4 spg. 

FRESH FACES

• Seven new Ichabods will suit up in the 2024-25 season with five freshmen beginning their collegiate careers and a pair of transfers. 
• Payton Sterk will wear #20 for Washburn after transferring from Cal State East Bay. The 5-10 guard will be a junior after averaging 18.5 ppg on 37.6% shooting with 5.1 rpg, 2.3 apg and 1.4 spg. She started all 28 games for the Pioneers playing 37.1 mpg and made a team-high 83 3-pointers while shooting 37.6% from deep. Sterk is a Colorado Springs, Colorado native and played prep ball at Doherty. 
• Emajin McCallop comes to Washburn as a junior after spending two seasons at DI Alabama A&M and will wear #22. She missed her entire sophomore season while appearing in all 29 games as a freshman with seven starts. She shot 36.4% from the floor, scoring 3.3 ppg with 1.9 rpg and 1.1 apg. She is a Kansas City, Mo. native and was high school teammates with Gabi Giovannetti at Bishop Miege HS. 
• Among the five player freshman class the Ichabods add three players to the guard room. Brooke Gomez will wear #1 for Washburn after heading east from Northglenn, Colo. and Westminster HS. Willow Gideon comes from the other direction in Rolla, Mo. and Rolla HS and will sport #15. Mersadie Spray stays inside the state coming from Great Bend, Kan. and Great Bend HS and wears #10. 
• Two players will join the post rotation for the Ichabods in the freshman class. Lauren Luebbert will wear #3 and comes from Marshfield Mo. after playing her prep ball at Marshfield HS. Cloie Jansky travels north from Magnolia, Texas and Magnolia HS to join Washburn and wear #33. 

STAT STACKING

• Last season Washburn led the MIAA and was 43rd in the nation creating 20.38 free throw attempts per game. 
• They finished third in the conference in rebounds per game with 39.07. They ranked fourth individually on the offensive and defensive side. 
• The Ichabod bench contributed 21.4 ppg last season, fifth best in the conference and 82nd most in the nation. 
• With 14.0 turnovers per game Washburn was 45th in the nation at limiting giveaways and had the 7th best mark in the conference. 
• The Ichabod defense held opponents to a 38.6% cumulative field goal percentage, the sixth best mark in the MIAA. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 151 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is 14th in program history. She is 10 rebounds away from moving up to No. 12. In overall rebounds she ranks 42nd in Washburn history with 391. 
• 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 32nd in program history with 65 career 3-pointers made. She will move into 30th with two 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 24-33 record with Washburn and is 101-111 in DII. 
• 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

Kansas 81, Washburn 54 (November 1, 2024)
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Washburn played its final preseason tune-up game Friday night falling to the University of Kansas 81-54 inside Allen Fieldhouse. The Ichabods begin the regular season in St. Cloud, Minnesota at the Central Region Crossover against Southwest Minnesota State on Nov. 8 at 4 p.m.  

It was Washburn that got on the board first with Yiibari Nwidadah getting a bucket to go in the paint on the opening possession of the game. The Jayhawks scored the next eight points, but the Ichabods battled back, going ahead 11-10 after a steal and score from Aniah Wayne in the backcourt with 2:01 left in the quarter. The Washburn defense forced six turnovers in the first quarter but in the final two minutes Kansas was able to break down the defense, ending the frame on an 8-0 run.  

The Ichabods kept it close to open the second quarter, cutting the lead down to six with 7:26 left after Payton Sterk drilled a three. Shortly after, free throws by Gabi Giovannetti made it a four-point game with 5:56 in the half. After the Jayhawks started the game 0-14 from beyond the arc they got their first to go with 1:01 left in the quarter, which pushed the lead to double figures. Kansas went into the break leading 39-27.  

A layup by Nwidadah opened the scoring 91 seconds out of halftime but Kansas scored 12 of the next 14 points to push its lead to 20 points at the 5:19 mark. The Jayhawks shot 5-12 from deep in the period while Washburn was unable to connect from distance in the quarter. A last second 3-pointer made it 64-36 for the home team after three.  

The fourth quarter began with a quick five points for the Ichabods on a triple by Giovannetti and a layup by Sterk. Washburn had its highest-scoring quarter of the game with 18 in the final ten minutes of play while also shooting 4-6 from deep. On the other end the Jayhawks were able to generate offense at the foul stripe, going 8-9 on free throws to maintain the lead and finish the game with an 81-54 win.  

Overall the Ichabods shot 19-56 (33.9%) from the field and were 6-15 from beyond the arc. Defensively, they held Kansas to 26-68 shooting (38.2%) but the Jayhawks attempted 28 free throws compared to 15 for Washburn. The home team was also plus ten on the boards, 48-38, and forced the Ichabods into 25 turnovers while committing just 17.  

Yiibari Nwidadah was a rebound shy of a double-double finishing with 15 points on 6-10 shooting with nine boards. Gabi Giovannetti and Payton Sterk each finished in double figures with 12 and 11 points respectively.  

Brittany Harshaw led Kansas with 20 points while S'Mya Nichols and Elle Evans each added 16.  

ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE MUSTANGS

• The Mustangs enter the 2024-25 season after going 19-12 overall and 15-7 inside the NSIC. They advanced to the NSIC Tournament Semifinals before falling to Minnesota State. 
• Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish fourth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll. 
• A year ago the Mustangs went 11-5 inside Rice Auditorium, 7-6 on the road and 1-1 in neutral court games. 
• Southwest Minnesota State averaged 75.0 ppg on 43.0% shooting while allowing 68.6ppg last year. They pulled down 36.8 rpg and dished out 13.3 apg, both higher than opponent marks. 
• The Mustangs finished first in the NSIC in free throw percentage, three point percentage and attempts. They were third nationally with 9.8 3-pointers made per game and 10th in percentage at 35.8%. 
• Bri Stoltzman leads the group of returners for SMSU after averaging 18.7 ppg on 47.5% shooting and 36.6% from deep a season ago. She pulled down 6.6 rpg while adding 2.1 spg on the defensive end. She was second in the conference in points per game and free throw attempts as a junior. Last season she was an All-NSIC first team member. 
• Peyton Blandin is the only other returning starter after starting all 31 games last season. She averaged 8.4 ppg on 36.8% shooting and pulling down 3.3 rpg. She was second on the team with 56 made 3-pointers on 36.1% shooting, the fourth most made triples in the NSIC.
• Elizabeth Wagner played in 30 games last season chipping in 3.6 ppg and pulling down 4.0 rpg while playing 13.6 mpg. 
• Five new players will suit up for Southwest Minnesota State this season. Sophomore transfer Natalie Nielsen joins from South Dakota State along with a pair of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen. 

HEAD COACH TOM WEBB

• Is in his ninth season as head coach at SMSU with a 96-114 record, including 72-92 in NSIC play. 
• Webb is 187-237 overall in his 16th season as head coach at the Division II level after compiling a record of 91-123 in eight seasons (2008-16) as head coach at Cameron University (Okla.). 
• Prior to Cameron, Webb spent four seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Eastern Washington University (2004-08).
• Earned his first head coaching position at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo., in 2000.
• Webb earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education from SMSU in 1998 and earned his master's degree in health and physical education from Northern State in 1999.

SERIES WITH SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

• Washburn has won the only meeting in the all-time series between the two teams.  
• The Ichabods claimed a 70-49 victory over the Mustangs on Dec. 19, 2004 in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

ABOUT THE ST. CLOUD STATE HUSKIES

• St. Cloud State begins the 2024-25 season after going 18-10 overall and 14-8 inside the NSIC a season ago. They advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NSIC Tournament before losing to UMary in its final game of the season.
• The Huskies were picked to finish fifth in the NSIC Preseason Poll. 
• A year ago St. Cloud State went 13-2 inside of Halenbeck Hall with a 5-7 record in road games and were 0-1 in neutral court contests. 
• The Huskies averaged 63.2 ppg on 39.7% shooting while allowing 58.1 ppg last year. They pulled down 36.1 rpg and dished out 14.8 apg, both higher than opponent marks. 
• They had the best scoring defense inside the NSIC and allowed the 28th least points overall. They were also second in both assists per game and assists/turnover ratio with top-50 marks nationally. 
• Jada Eggebrecht leads the returning crew for the Huskies after earning second team All-NSIC honors last season as a sophomore. She led the team scoring 12.1 ppg on 43.6% shooting and 38.3% from deep with 41 makes, also a team high. She added 2.4 rpg and 1.5 apg while starting all 28 games and logging a team-high 29.6 mpg.
• Ashley Sawicki also returns for her junior campaign after scoring 10.9 ppg on a team-high 47.2% shooting a season ago. She earned All-NSIC second team honors while starting in all 28 games and playing 23.4 mpg. She was fifth in the conference in bpg a season ago with 1.2 rejections. 
• Alana Zarneke will also return after scoring 4.6 ppg a season ago on 40.7% shooting. She played 11.1 mpg and pulled down 1.4 rpg. 
• A five player true freshman class will join St. Cloud State this season as the only new additions to the young roster. 

HEAD COACH LORI FISH

• Enters her 17th season as the head coach of St. Cloud State Women's Basketball in 2024-25.
• Has guided her teams to four 20-win seasons, two Division Championships, three Conference Championships, four Conference Tournament Finals, one NCAA Sweet 16 and five NCAA Tournament berths while twice being named the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Central Region Coach of the Year.
• Owns a 324-226 (.589) overall record with a 210-173 (.548) mark in conference play over her 20 seasons as a head coach and has chartered a 262-173 (.602) record with a 192-143 (.573) NSIC mark at St. Cloud State.
• Is a 1991 graduate of South Dakota State and a St. Cloud native. 

SERIES WITH ST. CLOUD STATE

• Washburn won the only game played between them and St. Cloud State in the all-time series. 
• They won 58-55 over the Huskies inside Lee Arena on Nov. 24, 2017. 

2023-24 SEASON-OPENER

Southwestern Oklahoma State 63, Washburn 58 (November 10, 2023)
SHAWNEE, Okla. -- Washburn pulled close down the stretch but were unable to overcome early turnover problems falling 63-58 to Southwestern Oklahoma State University in the 2023-24 season opener. The Ichabods finish up the Central Region Crossover tournament on Saturday against the host school Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m.  

Neither team scored for the first 3:10 of the game before Nia McKenzie laid in the first basket of the game and of her career with 6:50 in the first. A 3-pointer by Aniah Wayne put Washburn (0-1) up 9-6 with 4:40 in the quarter and gave her five early points off the bench. The Lady Bulldogs (1-0) finished the quarter on a 6-1 run to lead 12-10.  

Southwestern Oklahoma State extended its lead to five early in the second. By the 5:22 mark the Ichabods were able to take the lead back after a layup by Yiibari Nwidadah to make it 18-17. Turnovers continued to plague Washburn with six turnovers negating an 8-11 shooting performance in the quarter. The Bulldogs shot only 33.33% from the floor but took 10 more attempts. The Ichabods were only able to cut one point off the lead from the start of the quarter and went into the break trailing 30-29.  

It took more than two minutes for either team to score in the third quarter. SWOSU opened it up with a 7-3 run. The first six points for Washburn in the quarter all came from Wayne on an old school three-point play followed by a triple to put her in double figures. Two free throws by Aubree Dewey cut the lead down to one at 39-38 but Southwestern Oklahoma scored 11 of the next 12 points to go up by double digits.  

The Bulldogs lead grew to 12 with 7:44 left in the fourth quarter, the largest margin of the game. With 3:00 a 10-point lead was cut to seven on an offensive rebound putback and-one by Nwidadah. The extra chance bucket sparked a 7-0 run over the next 1:32 to cut the lead to three with 1:28 left.  

The Ichabods forced a turnover on the ensuing offensive possession but were unable to convert on offense and had to foul. SWOSU converted on its free throws to pull away and win 63-58.  

Yiibari Nwidadah finished with a 15 point and 16 rebound double-double in her first career start. Sixteen rebounds is tied for the fourth most rebounds in a game in program history. Aniah Wayne knocked down 5-10 shots for a game-high 16 points. Aubree Dewey had eight points and six rebounds.  

Washburn shot 43.8% from the floor while holding SWOSU to 35.4% shooting but were only 3-12 from behind the arc. The Ichabods held a 42 to 34 rebounding advantage but Southwestern Oklahoma was able to score 20 points on 27 turnovers.  

Rees Berkley had 14 points on 5-7 shooting to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Averi Zinn added 12 and led all players with six assists.  

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 995-494-1 (.668) 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 tournament play next weekend at the Quincy Classic against McKendree and Quincy on Nov. 15 and No. 16 respectively. 
• 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.