TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn women's basketball plays its final road contest of the 2023-24 regular season on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against Missouri Southern. 
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn women's basketball plays its second to last game of the regular season and the third straight against schools from Missouri with Missouri Southern on Wednesday. 
• The Ichabods will face the Lions on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Joplin, Mo. 
• Washburn is coming off a 69-56 loss at home to Central Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 24. 
• WU is now 12-14 overall on the year and has gone 7-13 in the MIAA.
• They have gone 8-4 at home, 3-9 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. 
• Missouri Southern is 19-7 overall on the year and are 15-5 in the MIAA after losing a 85-81 road contest to Fort Hays State on Saturday, they have lost three of the last four games.
• 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 in 10th place in the conference. 

TO GET TO THE TOURNAMENT

• Washburn currently has the 10th and final spot in the MIAA Championship Tournament 
• The Ichabods would make the tournament if they...
• Win both games against Missouri Southern and Emporia State to finish the season
• If Central Oklahoma loses both of its final games against Northwest Missouri and Newman
• If Washburn and Central Oklahoma each win one game 
• If Pittsburg State finishes above Northwest Missouri State in the final MIAA standings AND UCO and WU are tied for 10th in the MIAA standings 

BODS AND BITS

• As a team Washburn averages 68.7 ppg on 40.2% shooting from the floor and 30.9%  from deep. 
• Opponents average 65.1 ppg on 38.4% shooting and 28.6% from behind the arc. 
• WU is shooting 70.3% from the line this year going 379-539 overall while opponents are 375-495, for a 75.8% clip. 
• The Ichabods are pulling down 39.7 rpg while holding opponents to just 35.9 rpg. 
• Washburn extended its three point streak to 95 games with four triples on Saturday afternoon. 
• 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 42.5% shooting from the floor. Dewey dishes out a team-high 4.7 apg and pulls down 5.5 rpg from the point guard position, second most on the team. She leads the team playing 35.2 and snags 1.8 spg. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah is second on the team averaging 12.4 ppg and nearly averages a double double pulling down a team-high 9.5 rpg with 3.4 on the offensive end. She also leads WU in shooting at 57.2% from the floor and is doing so in just 24.7 mpg.  She has started 23 of 24 contests she has appeared in. 
• Aniah Wayne scores 8.0 ppg this season in 24.1 mpg with 21 starts. She also pulls down 2.8 rpg and is shooting 31.1% from the field and leads the Ichabods with 43 triples. 
• Mackenzie Gamble has made 18 starts and is averaging 22.0 mpg. She is scoring 6.3 ppg, dishing 1.2 apg with 2.8 rpg and is second on the team shooting 35.7% from three. 
• Amaya Davison is averaging 6.1 ppg playing every game with five starts shooting 34.0% from the floor with 2.4 rpg in 22.2 mpg.  
• Gabi Giovannetti is scoring 6.6 ppg in 18.0 mpg in 19 games with three starts. She has averages of 38.9% from the floor and is shooting a team-high 40.3% from deep.
• Lakyn Schieferecke has started 10 games for Washburn playing 18.6 mpg. She is averaging 3.8 ppg on 37.2% shooting and is pulling down 3.2 rpg .
• Madelyn Amekporfor has made 13 starts averaging 17.2 mpg and is scoring 4.8 ppg on 41.1% shooting with 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. 
• Liz Boyd is averaging 4.8 ppg in just 11.4 mpg while shooting 43.9% from the field. She's also pulling down 3.1 rpg off the bench.
• Nia McKenzie has made five starts and appeared in 24 games playing 9.3 mpg and scoring 2.1 ppg with 2.3 rpg. 
• Rebecca Snyder is scoring 1.0 ppg with 1.6 rpg playing 8.5 mpg with appearances in 19 games and six starts. 

STACKING THE STATS

• Washburn is 72th nationally in bench points per game with an average of 22.2 ppg coming from the reserves. That number is sixth in the conference. 
• Washburn is crashing the glass and is 77th nationally in rebound advantage pulling down 3.8 more boards per game than opponents, fifth in the MIAA.
• The Ichabods are 60th in the nation committing only 14.5 turnovers per game, eighth least in the conference. 
• Washburn is fourth in the conference and 76th nationally in defending the three point line holding opponents to 28.6% shooting from behind the arc. 
• WU is first in the MIAA and 32nd nationally shooting 20.73 free throws per game. They are 39th in the nation knocking down 14.58 shots from the charity stripe per contest. 
• Aubree Dewey ranks 33rd in the nation in assists per game with 4.7, that number is third among MIAA players. She is 33rd nationally in total assists with 121. 
• She is also first in the conference averaging 35.15 mpg and fifth in scoring at 16.1 ppg. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah is first in the MIAA and 34th nationally averaging 9.5 rpg. She is tied for 31st nationally and fourth in the conference with 10 double doubles on the year. 
• She is ninth in the conference in blocks on the year. 
• Aniah Wayne is ninth in the conference in total 3-pointers made while Mackenzie Gamble is 13th in the MIAA. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• Aubree Dewey is 53 points away from reaching 1,000 in her career. She is also eighth place all-time with 311 career assists. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah is one minute away from reaching 1,000 in her career and is 31 points away from 500. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is 16 minutes away from 1,000 on the court for Washburn. 
• Amaya Davison is eight points away from 250 in her career and just seven rebounds away from 100. 

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

Central Missouri 69, Washburn 56 (Feb. 24, 2024)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn held with Central Missouri for three quarters but a fourth-quarter offensive burst from the visitors separated them from the Ichabods for a 69-56 win on Saturday afternoon. Washburn will head on the road for its final home game of the season on Wednesday against Missouri Southern at 5:30 p.m.  

Baskets were hard to come by for both teams early in the game, a jumper by Mackenzie Gamble put the Ichabods (12-14, 7-13 MIAA) up 8-6 with 3:08 left in the first quarter. The Jennies (19-7, 13-7 MIAA) scored the next five points in under a minute and led 16-12 after 10 minutes of action.  

Central Missouri pushed its lead up to nine points with 8:49 left in the second quarter. A jumper from Amaya Davison sparked a 6-0 run but it was short-lived with UCM growing the lead to double digits at 28-18 with 4:35 left in the quarter. Washburn shot 6-11 from the field but saved the offense for the end of the quarter ending it on a 7-0 run to make it 30-27 at halftime.  

The Ichabods didn't score until the 6:21 mark in the third quarter but were able to cut the lead down to just two after Gamble sunk a 3-pointer with 5:41 left. A 5-0 Washburn run capped off by a pair of free throws from Aubree Dewey put the home team ahead in the final two minutes of the quarter and they would head to the fourth tied at 46.  

After shooting under 38% in the first three quarters Central Missouri exploded offensively shooting 8-14 (57.1%) from the floor and went 5-8 from the free throw line. They scored the first three points of the quarter and pushed the lead up to six. A three from Gamble and layup by Dewey pushed it down to one point with just over six minutes to play but that was as close as the Ichabods could get. Central Missouri put the lead into double digits with 1:13 left and held on to win 69-56.  

Washburn shot 19-48 (39.6%) in the game and were 14-21 from the free throw line. The Jennies shot 25-64 (39.1%) and went 15-22 at the charity stripe. Eighteen offensive rebounds for Central Missouri and 24 turnovers from the Ichabods were the difference in the game.  

Aubree Dewey led the home team with 14 points along with seven rebounds and four assists, both team-highs. Gabi Giovannetti had 12 points on 5-9 shooting and Yiibari Nwidadah had eight points with six rebounds.  

Brooke Littrell led all scorers with 29 points for Central Missouri on 11-16 shooting and added three steals and four blocks.  

ABOUT THE MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS

• The Lions are 19-7 on the year and 15-5 in MIAA play after a 85-81 loss to Fort Hays State on the road on Saturday. 
• Missouri Southern went 29-7 overall in 2022-23 with an 16-6 mark in the MIAA, winning the MIAA Championship Tournament and advancing to the finals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament. 
• On the year the Lions are averaging 73.6 points on 44.0% shooting overall and 36.1% from deep. 
• Opponents are averaging 62.4 points on 36.8% shooting and 27.9% from behind the arc. 
• MSSU is 7-2 inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center this season. 
• The Lions have an advantage on the boards this season averaging 2.8 more rpg than opponents. They also come away with 8.4 spg while opponents average just 6.5 spg. 
• Kryslyn Jones leads a balanced scoring attack at 12.2 ppg on 40.3% from the floor while shooting 37.4% from deep. She also pulls down 3.5 rpg with 1.9 apg and has played in all 26 games averaging 29.6 mpg. 
• Ryan Franklin is second on the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg on 53.0% shooting while also pulling down a team-high 5.9 rpg and swatting 1.4 bpg. She has started in four games and played in all 26. 
• Brandi Hudson scores 11.6 ppg while leading the team at 59.5% shooting in just 19.8 mpg. She also pulls down 4.6 rpg with 1.0 spg. 
• Kaitlin Hunnicut averages 11.2 ppg on 40.3% shooting while going 37.3% from behind the arc. She averages 1.2 spg and 3.0 rpg. 
• Maggie Sockey averages 7.2 ppg primarily off the bench on 43.3% shooting along with 2.6 rpg and 1 steal. 
• Reese Webb is the only player to start in all 26 games for the Lions, she averages 3.5 ppg with 4.2 rpg in 22.3 mpg. 

HEAD COACH RONNIE RESSEL

• is in his 8th season as head coach at Missouri Southern State after being hired on March 16, 2017.
• served three years as an assistant and one year as an interim head coach
• For the four seasons prior to his time with the women, Ressel mentored the posts at Southern. He was elevated to the position of men's Associate Head Coach in 2010-11
• Prior to joining the Lions, Ressel was a head coach at Rend Lake College where he produced a record of 118-92 and was named Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1996
• Also during his stint at Rend Lake, he served as assistant softball coach and coordinator of the Rend Lake Fitness Center
• Ressel played two seasons at Missouri Southern from 1989-91

SERIES WITH MISSOURI SOUTHERN

• Wednesday will be the 90th meeting all-time between the Washburn and Missouri Southern with the Ichabods leading the series 53-36. 
• The series began Feb. 2, 1970 with a 30-19 neutral court win for Washburn. 
• The Ichabods are 21-20 against Missouri Southern in Joplin.
• Earlier in the season the Lions won 69-50 in Topeka on Jan. 17.
• Missouri Southern has won the last seven matchups between the two teams. 

LAST TIME VS MISSOURI SOUTHERN

Missouri Southern 69, Washburn 50 (January 17, 2024)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn was unable to bounce back from a slow offensive start Wendesday evening falling to Missouri Southern 69-50. The Ichabods finish off a two-game stint at home on Saturday against Pittsburg State at 1:00 p.m.  

Early on Washburn (10-6, 5-5 MIAA) was able to build a lead, going up 8-4 with 3:56 in the first quarter after Aubree Dewey and Madelyn Amekporfor each went coast to coast for layups off of turnovers. The Lions (12-4, 8-2 MIAA) were able to finish the quarter strong and go up 11-10 after the first.  

In the second quarter the Ichabods had trouble scoring with their first and only point coming on a free throw from Liz Boyd with 4:11 left. Defensively, Washburn held Missouri Southern to just 4-12 shooting from the floor in the second quarter, the Lions were able to get to the free throw line eight times, making six to the Ichabods' two attempts. At the break the visitors led 28-12.  

Out of the break Washburn was able to score at a quick pace, going 6-12 overall for the quarter but on the other end Missouri Southern shot 9-11 in the frame. The lead was pushed up to 20 points for the first time with 2:28 left in the third quarter and led by 21 heading into the fourth.  

The Ichabods started the fourth on a 5-0 run with Mackenzie Gamble knocking down the only triple of the game for Washburn to kick it off. The lead never got below the 15 mark as the Lions led by as many as 23 with 5:32 left and eventually took the 69-50 win.  

For the game Washburn shot just 26.8% from the field going 15-56. Missouri Southern ended the game at 52.0% after going 17-24 in the second half. The Lions also had advantages on the boards, 40 to 32, and in assists, 15 to 11. Missouri Southern got a spark from the bench with 49 points coming from the reserves.  

Aubree Dewey led the Ichabods with 11 points, Madelyn Amekporfor had nine, both with a pair of steals. Yiibari Nwidadah led with eight rebounds.  

Missouri Southern finished with two double-digit scorers, both off the bench, Ryan Franklin paced the Lions with 20 while Brandi Hudson had 13.  

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 994-492-1 (.669) 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  head back home for the final game of the regular season, senior day, on Saturday, March 2 in against Emporia State. 
• The MIAA Championship Tournament begins March 6 in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.