TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn women's basketball returns to Topeka after four games on the road to take on Missouri Western State at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7. 
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn women's basketball returns home from a two week stint on the road to face Missouri Western State on Wednesday. 
• The Ichabods will face the Griffons at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7 inside of Lee Arena. 
• Washburn is coming off a 66-62 road loss to Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon. 
• WU is now 11-10 overall on the year and has gone 6-9 in the MIAA.
• They have gone 7-1 at home, 3-8 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 Western State is 17-4 overall to start the year and are 12-3 in the MIAA after defeating Nebraska-Kearney 73-61 on Saturday. They have won seven straight games and are receiving votes in the latest WBCA rankings. 
• 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. 

BODS AND BITS

• As a team Washburn averages 70.6 ppg on 41.2% shooting from the floor and 32.6% from deep. 
• Opponents average 64.1 ppg on 38.0% shooting and 27.9% from behind the arc. 
• WU is shooting 70.9% from the line this year going 307-433 overall while opponents are 289-391, for a 73.9% clip. 
• The Ichabods are pulling down 40.1 rpg while holding opponents to just 35.5 rpg. They also average 11.9 apg while opponents average 11.1.
• Washburn extended its three point streak to 90 games with seven of triples on Saturday afternoon.
• The 12 player roster for Washburn is the smallest roster since the 2006-07 roster which also featured 12 players. 

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME 

• The 2023-24 season marks the 40th season of play in Lee Arena as the facility opened in the 1983-84 season.
• Washburn is 454-125 all-time in Lee Arena. 

THE BLUE CREW

• Aubree Dewey leads the Ichabod scoring attack at 16.4 ppg on 44.3% shooting from the floor. Dewey dishes out a team-high 4.8 apg and pulls down 5.5 rpg from the point guard position, second most on the team. She leads the team playing 34.6 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 9.8 rpg with 3.6 on the offensive end. She also leads WU in shooting at 56.1% from the floor and is doing so in just 24.4 mpg.  She missed last game with an injury but has started in all 20 other contests.
• Aniah Wayne nearly averages double figures, scoring 9.5 ppg this season in 26.7 mpg with 19 starts. She also pulls down 3.1 rpg and is shooting 33.7% from the field and leads the Ichabods with 42 triples. 
• Mackenzie Gamble has made 15 starts and is averaging 22.3 mpg. She is scoring 6.1 ppg, dishing 1.4 apg with 2.7 rpg and is second on the team shooting 37.8% from three. 
• Amaya Davison is averaging 6.1 ppg playing every game with one start shooting 36.0% from the floor with 2.1 rpg in 21.1 mpg.  
• Gabi Giovannetti is scoring 5.5 ppg in 14.6 mpg off the bench in 14 games. She has averages of 40.0% from the floor and is shooting a team-high 42.2% from deep.
• Lakyn Schieferecke has started eight games for Washburn playing 19.7 mpg. She is averaging 4.2 ppg on 37.7% shooting and is pulling down 3.4 rpg .
• Madelyn Amekporfor has made 13 starts averaging 17.5 mpg and is scoring 5.2 ppg on 40.0% shooting with 0.9 steals per game. 
• Liz Boyd is averaging 5.2 ppg in just 12.2 mpg while shooting 42.9% from the field. She's also pulling down 3.4 rpg off the bench.
• Nia McKenzie has made two starts and appeared in 19 games playing 7.2 mpg and scoring 1.6 ppg. 
• 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 57th nationally in bench points per game with an average of 23.4 ppg coming from the reserves. That number is fourth in the conference. 
• Washburn is crashing the glass and is 55th nationally in rebound advantage pulling down 4.6 more boards per game than opponents, fourth in the MIAA.
• The Ichabods are 79th in the nation in efficiency from deep shooting 32.6% for the year, the sixth best mark in the MIAA. 
• Washburn is fifth in the conference and 59th nationally in defending the three point line holding opponents to 27.9% shooting from behind the arc. 
• WU is first in the MIAA and 42nd nationally shooting 20.62 free throws per game. They are also 40th in the nation knocking down 14.62 shots from the charity stripe per contest. 
• Aubree Dewey ranks 32nd in the nation in assists per game with 4.8, that number is second among MIAA players. She is 24th nationally in total assists with 100. 
• She is also eighth in the conference in field goal percentage at 44.3%.
• Yiibari Nwidadah is first in the MIAA and 23rd nationally averaging 9.8 rpg. She is tied for 16th nationally and first in the conference with nine double doubles on the year. 
• Aniah Wayne is fourth in the conference in both total three pointers and three pointers per game. Mackenzie Gamble is 12th in both categories. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• Mackenzie Gamble is 21 points away from 500 in her Ichabod career. 
• Aubree Dewey is 10 assists away from 300 in her Washburn career, she is currently 14th in program history in the category. She is one game away from playing in her 100th career game at Washburn. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah is 105 minutes away from reaching 1,000 in her career. 

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

Northeastern State 66, Washburn 62 (Feb. 3, 2024)
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Washburn led for the first three quarters but were tripped up in the fourth quarter by Northeastern State, losing 66-62 on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods return to Topeka and host Missouri Western on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m.  

A steal from Aubree Dewey set up Madelyn Amekporfor for a fast-break and-one layup putting Washburn up 7-1 at the 6:07 mark in the first quarter. Dewey scored herself late in the quarter, sinking a 3-pointer with 39 seconds left to end the first 10 minutes up 17-10.  

The first seven points of the second quarter all went to Washburn with Liz Boyd finishing off the run with a layup at the 8:48 mark of the second quarter. The RiverHawks (11-10, 7-8 MIAA) responded with seven straight points of their own. Gavi Giovannetti knocked down back-to-back triples to go back up by 13. Over the final 36 seconds Northeastern State was able to go on a 5-0 run to make it 34-27 at halftime.  

The Ichabods pushed the lead back into double figures after halftime on a Boyd bucket down low at the 6:21 mark of the third. Amekporfor got a layup to go with 3:12 to go that make the lead a game-high 14 but once again the RiverHawks had a strong finish to the quarter with a jumper in the final seconds to make it 49-43 going to the fourth.  

Northeastern State cut the lead all the way down to just one point in the first 75 seconds of the fourth quarter. Amaya Davison put an end to the run with a 3-pointer which kept Washburn in front until the RiverHawks knocked down a jumper to go up 56-55 with 4 minutes remaining.  

Washburn took a one-point lead on a three-pointer from Mackenzie Gamble with 2:04 left but the next four points came from the home team to go up by three. Dewey knocked down a jumper with 20 seconds left to cut the lead to just one, and following one missed free throw Dewey converted a layup with eight seconds left to tie the game at 62.  

Northeastern State knocked down a jumper with four seconds left to go ahead and the ensuing offensive possession for the Ichabods came up empty. NESU knocked down two more free throws to win 66-62.  

Washburn shot 23-65 (35.4%) for the game and were 7-22 from beyond the arc. Northeastern State was 22-55 (40.0%) from the field and went 17-25 at the line, attempting 13 more free throws than the Ichabods. The RiverHawks won the turnover battle 14 to 7 leading to 12 points.  

The rebounding battle went Washburn's way 45-34, led by Aubree Dewey securing a career-high 10 boards along with 11 points for a double double. Nia McKenzie and Liz Boyd each led in scoring with career-high's of 12. The pair of freshmen also pulled down eight rebounds each.  

Tor'e Alford led the RiverHawks in scoring with 17 points, Grace Abercrombie added 15 off the bench on 7-12 shooting.

ABOUT THE MISSOURI WESTERN STATE GRIFFONS

• The Griffons are 17-3 on the year and 12-3 in MIAA play after an 73-61 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday for a seventh straight win. They are receiving votes in the latest WBCA rankings. 
• Missouri Western went 24-7 overall in 2022-23 with an 18-4 mark in the MIAA before falling in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. 
• On the year the Griffons are averaging 78.0 points on 46.1% shooting overall and 34.6% from deep. 
• Opponents are averaging 58.2 points on 35.7% shooting and 26.6% from behind the arc. 
• MWSU is 5-2 away from the Gross Memorial Coliseum this season. 
• Missouri Western has a big advantage passing the ball this season averaging 17.2 apg while opponents notch just 10 per game. They also pull down 3.8 more rpg than the opponents.  
• Connie Clarke paces the Griffons offensive game at 12.3 ppg on 52.6% from the floor and 38.5% from deep. She also pulls down a team high 7.3 rpg while coming away with 2.5 spg. Her 2.7 apg also lead the team in just 22.6 mpg. 
• Brionna Budgetts is second on the team with 10.2 ppg on 39.6% shooting with 1.3 spg. 
• Tiani Ellison leads the squad shooting 52.9% from the floor while scoring 9.4 ppg and grabbing 3.6 rpg. 
• Jayme Jackson scores 8.8 ppg on 45.6% shooting and pulls in 2.1 rpg. 
• No player averages more than 22.6 mpg for the Griffons. Ten players average at least 11 mpg and eleven players have started at least one game. 

HEAD COACH CANDI WHITAKER

• is in her fifth season as head coach since being hired in April of 2019.
• Prior to coming to MWSU, Whitaker was the head coach at Texas Tech from 2013-18. She was also an associate head coach at Oklahoma State (2012-13) and the head coach at Missouri-Kansas City (2006-12)
• she began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Valparaiso from 2002-04
• as a student-athlete Whitaker helped Texas Tech to back -to-back Sweet 16 appearances as a student-athlete from 2000-02

SERIES WITH MISSOURI WESTERN STATE

• Wednesday will be the 104th meeting all-time between the Ichabods and the Griffons with Washburn leading the series 57-46. 
• The series began Jan. 17, 1976 with a 74-70 overtime win for Washburn in St. Joseph. 
• The Ichabods are 28-17 against MWSU inside of Lee Arena. 
• Earlier this season Missouri Western defeated Washburn 98-78 in St. Joseph, Aubree Dewey led Washburn with 18 points in the game. 
• The Griffons have won the last five contests in the series.  

LAST TIME VS MISSOURI WESTERN STATE

Missouri Western 98, Washburn 78 (December 16, 2023)
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Washburn kept it close through the first half but a hot-shooting last 20 minutes by Missouri Western gave the Griffons a 98-78 win at home. The Ichabods return to Topeka for one last game of 2023 against Northeastern State at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19.  

Both teams got off to hot starts offensively going back and forth. Mackenzie Gamble knocked in a layup with 4:44 left in the quarter to give her seven quick points and put Washburn (7-3, 2-2) up 12-9. Less than a minute of game time later Missouri Western (8-3, 4-2) tied the game at 14. They continued the hot start, shooting 9-13 in the quarter to lead 24-19 at the end of the first.  

The Griffons pushed the lead to seven early in the second before the Ichabods started to chip away. Madelyn Amekporfor hit a 3-pointer to spark a 9-2 Washburn run, tying the game up at 33 on a triple from Aniah Wayne. The Ichabods were able to take the lead with 3:01 left in the quarter on a pair of free throws by Lakyn Schieferecke and held the lead until Missouri Western went on a 5-0 run to end the half leading 44-41.  

The Griffons took the momentum from the final play of the first half into the second, shooting 50% as a team in the third quarter. Washburn was able to keep it close, cutting the lead down from eight back to three with 3:56 left in the quarter on a jumper by Aubree Dewey. A pair of free throws by MWSU with 1:29 pushed the lead into double digits for the first time. Dewey knocked down a triple in the final minute to make it 69-61 going into the fourth.  

Missouri Western began the fourth on a 4-0 run to go up by 13 points and the lead never got below 10 the rest of the way. The Griffons led by as many as 20 and would win by 20, 98-78. 

Washburn got solid offensive production, shooting 38.3% from the floor, going 8-18 from behind the arc and knocking down 24 free throws. Missouri Western created the difference in the game with its shot-making, shooting 60.3% for the game while making nine 3-pointers and going 19-23 from the line. The Griffons got 15+ point advantages in bench production and points in the paint to decide the game offensively.  

Four players from Washburn finished in double figures led by Dewey who had 18 points to go along with three assists and a pair of steals. Aniah Wayne made three 3-pointers on her way to 15 points while adding three steals. Yiibari Nwidadah had 13 points on 4-8 shooting with six boards and Mackenzie Gamble added 10 points.  

Jayme Jackson led a quartet of Griffons to score in double digits with a game-high 20 points on 7-11 shooting. 

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 993-488-1 (.670) 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 play one more game at home against Northwest Missouri State on Saturday at 1 p.m. before going on the road for another week. 
• 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.