TOPEKA, Kan. -- After feasting on Thursday, Washburn will hit the floor Friday in the Lone Star State at the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic facing St. Mary's at 6 p.m. on Friday and Texas A&M - Kingsville at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas. 

OPENING TIP

• Heading back on the road Washburn women's basketball travels to the Lone Star State to face St. Mary's University and Texas A&M University - Kingsville at the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic. 
• The Ichabods face the host Rattlers at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 before taking on the Javelinas at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 in San Antonio, Texas inside Bill Greehey Arena. 
• Washburn is coming off a 18-13 season in 2024-25, finishing 5th in the MIAA regular season with an 11-8 record in the conference play. They advanced to the MIAA Tournament Semifinals.
• The Ichabods were picked to finish 2nd in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and were tabbed 3rd by the media.  
• Washburn is receiving votes in the most recent WBCA Poll released on November 25. 
• St. Mary's enters the week with a 3-0 record while Texas A&M University - Kingsville enters the tournament 0-2 on the year. 

ST. MARY'S THANKSGIVING CLASSIC

• The St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic will be held in Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary's University between Nov. 28-29. 
• Participating in the tournament are Washburn, St. Mary's, Texas A&M - Kingsville and Oklahoma Baptist. 
• Live stats can be found for all games through the Washburn schedule page. 
• Live video will be through FloCollege and can be purchased online. 

BODS AND BITS

• Washburn returns ten letterwinners from last season's roster while adding four total new faces in the form of three transfers and one true freshman. 
• The experienced Ichabod roster consists of four seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and one freshman. 
• As a team Washburn has shooting splits of 41.7% from the floor, 29.9% from deep and 59.6% at the free throw line to score 65.0 ppg.
• They grab 38.8 rpg with 15.0 apg to 17.8 turnovers per contest. Defensively they average 11.5 spg with 4.3 bpg. 
• On the year opponents are averaging 55.8 ppg while shooting 36.4% from the floor and 21.5% from behind the 3-point line. 
• Washburn is 2-0 on the year inside the new Lee Arena, 1-1 in neutral court games and have not played a true road contest on the year. 
• Washburn made five triples against Southwest Minnesota State to extend its streak with a made 3-pointer to 132 games. 

THE BLUE BUNCH

• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team in scoring at 13.8 ppg in just 21.0 mpg on the short season. She has started every game and leads the team grabbing 7.0 rpg while also shooting 63.9% from the floor. She swats away 0.8 bpg and has scored in double figures in three games. She is 2nd in the MIAA in FG% and 16th in the nation while also ranking 6th in the conference in RPG. 
• Britany Kogbara has provided a spark off the bench as she sits third on the team scoring 10.8 ppg in just 15.8 mpg. She is shooting 64.5% from the floor, best on the team, while grabbing 4.3 rpg and making a steal and a block per game. The junior has scored in double figures in three games. She ranks 1st in the MIAA and 13th in the nation in FG%. Grabbing 2.8 orpg she is 8th in the MIAA as well. 
• Payton Sterk is scoring in double figures at 11.8 ppg while starting every game and playing 27.0 mpg, most on the team. She is adding 2.0 spg and has made seven 3-pointers. The senior ranks 6th in the MIAA in steals per game and 11th in 3-pointers made per game. 
• Gabi Giovannetti has started all four games for Washburn scoring 10.0 ppg on 41.7% shooting in 24.8 mpg of action. She has made a team-high eight triples on a team-best 47.1% shooting from behind the arc. She made her first double-double last weekend and now averages 5.3 rpg along with 2.5 spg, a team-high. She is 2nd in the MIAA and 47th in the nation in 3PT% and is 2nd in the conference in spg. 
• Madelyn Amekporfor has started every game playing 24.8 mpg and scoring 5.3 ppg while shooting 52.9% from the floor. She is adding 2.3 rpg along with swiping 1.3 spg and swatting away 1.5 bpg, a team-high. She is 5th in the MIAA in bpg. 
• Brooke Gomez has played in every game while making two starts and is logging 17.5 mpg. She scores 2.8 ppg on 31.3% shooting and is dishing out a team-high 3.5 apg along with 1.0 spg. She ranks 5th in the MIAA in apg. 
• Aniah Wayne has come off the bench in every game playing 19.8 mpg. She is scoring 5.3 ppg on 45.0% shooting from the floor. The senior also chips in 2.3 rpg and 1.8 apg. 
• Kellyn Hunter has played in all four games while making two starts for the Ichabods and logging 18.8 mpg. She is coming away with 2.3 spg, second most on the team, dishes 2.5 apg and grabs 3.0 rpg. She is 5th in the MIAA in spg. 
• Nia McKenzie has played 11.5 mpg off the bench in every game. She is scoring 1.5 ppg on 3-3 shooting for the year along with an assist and rebound per game. 
• Kennadi Jackson has come off the bench in all four games playing 5.5 mpg and scoring 0.8 ppg with 0.5 apg. 
• Willow Gideon has played in two games logging 8.5 mpg. She is scoring 3.5 ppg.
• Lauren Luebbert has come off the bench in two games playing 8.5 mpg. She is scoring 1.5 ppg. 
• Cloie Jansky has appeared in two games off the bench logging 4.5 mpg and grabbing 2.0 rpg. 
• Kylin Shipman has appeared in three games for the Ichabods logging 4.0 mpg. 

STAT STACKING

• Washburn 35th in the nation at protecting the three-point line holding opponents to a 21.5% clip from beyond the arc, best in the MIAA. 
• Holding opponents to 55.8 ppg overall the Ichabods are 50th nationally and first in the MIAA in scoring defense. 
• Washburn is coming away with 4.3 rejections per game, putting them 40th in the nation and 2nd among MIAA opponents. 
• The Ichabods are creating extra opportunities with 15.3 offensive rpg, 1st in the MIAA and 52nd nationally.
• Washburn is also first in the conference with 11.5 spg, a number that puts them 60th in the nation. 
• Dishing out 15.0 apg the Ichabods are 51st nationally and 3rd in the MIAA at sharing the ball. 

ADVANCED STATS

• Washburn has a team offensive rating of 92.3 and defensive rating of 79.1 based on averages per 100 possessions. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team among qualified players in rebounding percentage at 17.8%. 
• Britany Kogbara is second on the team grabbing 14.4% of rebounds when on the floor. 
• Brooke Gomez has the highest assist percentage on the team at 33.8% of assists while on the floor. 
• Kellyn Hunter has the second highest mark at 20.1%. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah has the highest true shooting percentage on the team at 65.9% when adding in free throw percentage and 3-pointers. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 239 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is 4th in program history at creating extra opportunities. In overall rebounding she is 11th with 651 career boards. 
• Her career field goal percentage of .584 is the 2nd best in program history. In scoring she ranks tied for 19th among all Ichabods with 1,047 career points. 
• Nwidadah is also 16th in program history with 61 career blocked shots. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is tied for 10th in program history with 120 career 3-pointers made. She is 21st among all Ichabods with 53 blocked shots. 
• Payton Sterk currently sits 31st in program history with 69 3-pointers made in just 35 career games with Washburn. 
• With 50 career blocked shots Madelyn Amekporfor is tied for 22nd in program history. 

HEAD COACH LORA WESTLING

• Lora Westling is in her fourth season as head coach at her alma mater entering the 2025-26 season. She has a 45-47 record with Washburn and is 122-125 mark  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 Katie Dalton and Robin Stahl along with student assistant Karly Neufeld complete out the coaching staff.
• Dalton enters her second year on the Washburn sideline in 2025-26. After moving to Topeka she reunited 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.
• Robin Stahl joins the Ichabod staff in 2025-26 after a one-year stop at Ottawa University where she was an assistant coach with the women's program. Before that she spent one season as a graduate assistant at Central Missouri. 
• Stahl is an Alliance, Ohio native who began her career at Malone University where spent four years with career averages of 13.5 ppg and 3.6 apg. She graduated from Malone in 2022. She played one season at Central Missouri before moving into a GA position. 
• Karly Neufeld is back for a second season as a student assistant in the 2025-26 season. 

LAST TIME OUT

Washburn 66, MSU Denver 44  (November 22, 2025)
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod women's basketball team turned a tight first half into a commanding victory with a dominant third-quarter burst, powering past MSU Denver 66–44 on Saturday afternoon at Lee Arena wrapping up the Hotel Topeka Classic. The Ichabods moved to 3–1 on the season behind a balanced offensive effort and one of their most efficient stretches of basketball this year.

After taking a 33–23 lead into halftime, the Ichabods blew the game open with an 18-0 run in the third quarter, outscoring the Roadrunners 25–7 in the frame. Washburn shot a blistering 66.7 percent (10-of-15) in the period while holding MSU Denver to just 2-of-13. By the end of the quarter, the Ichabods had extended their advantage to 58–30, their largest lead of the game at 28 points.

The offensive balance helped define the win. Gabi Giovannetti led all scorers with 17 points and added 10 rebounds and three steals, including a pair of momentum-changing threes during the third-quarter surge recording her first double double in the process. Payton Sterk finished with 14 points, connecting twice from long range and contributing on both ends of the floor. Inside, Britany Kogbara delivered 12 points and five rebounds off the bech, while Yiibari Nwidadah added seven points and eight boards.

Washburn shot 39.1 percent from the field and overcame a cold night from three by dominating the interior, outscoring MSU Denver 38–18 in the paint and controlling the glass with a 52–28 rebounding advantage. The Ichabods also created separation through second-chance points and transition opportunities, turning their hustle into points on the other end.

MSU Denver stayed close early, trailing 17–12 after one and 33–23 at halftime, but struggled to maintain pace once Washburn tightened its defensive pressure. The Roadrunners shot just 29.6 percent in the opening half and never found a rhythm from the perimeter. The third quarter proved decisive as Washburn capitalized on turnovers, rebounding dominance, and efficient shooting to break the game open.

The Roadrunners were unable to cut the deficit under 20 in the final period as the Ichabods finished with advantages in points off turnovers (14 to 11), second-chance scoring (14 to 2), and bench production (28 to 11), while also holding their largest lead of 28 late in the third quarter.

The Ichabods (3-1) will return to action Nov. 28-29 at the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic when they will face the host school and Texas A&M Kingsville on the following day in San Antonio, Texas.

ABOUT THE ST. MARY'S RATTLERS

• St. Mary's enters the tournament with a 3-0 record on the year after defeating Western Colorado 66-65 last time out on Nov. 22. 
• The Rattlers are 1-0 inside of Bill Greehey Arena, 2-0 on the road and have not played a neutral court game. 
• Last season St. Mary's went 14-14 on the year and 10-12 inside the Lone Star Conference, missing out on the conference tournament. 
• So far on the year the Rattlers  average 60.3 ppg with shooting splits of 37.2% from the floor, 31.6% from deep and 69.0% at the line. They also grab 38.7 rpg with 10.3 apg. Opponents are scoring 57.7 ppg on 34.5% shooting. 
• St. Mary's ranks 18th in the nation in blocks per game, 48th in FG% defense and are 45th in 3-pointers made per game at 8.0. 
• Allie Garcia has started all three games logging 28.3 mpg. She leads the team in scoring at 11.7 ppg on 48.4% shooting while swatting away 1.3 bpg. She is 5th in the LSC in FG%. 
• Christin Callens is scoring 10.3 ppg on 37.5% shooting overall and 40.0% from beyond the arc. She has started in all three games playing 27.0 mpg and is grabbing 6.0 rpg. 
• Raynne Malik has started all three games playing 28.0 mpg to lead the team in rebounding at 10.0 rpg. She also swats away a team-high 2.3 gbp while chipping in 7.3 ppg. She is 17th in the nation in bpg and 38th in rpg. 
• Aina Maynou sits at 8.7 ppg on 38.1% shooting across 25.7 mpg. She has started in all three games and adds 2.7 rpg and 1.0 spg. 
• Andrea Montesinos has started every game playing 28.0 ppg and is leading the way with 3.7 apg. She also averages 7.0 ppg with 4.3 rpg. 

HEAD COACH VALERIE HUIZAR

• Valerie Huizar is in her 4th season leading the St. Mary's basketball program where she has a 31-56 record. 
• Huizar was also the head coach at Louisiana State University Shreveport for two seasons, where they advanced to the NAIA National Tournament both seasons (2014-16).
• Before her time at OLLU from 2012-14, she was an assistant coach at Tyler Junior College, ranking among the top 25 in the nation in her one year with the team
• She graduated from LSU Shreveport in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in elementary and secondary health and physical education and earned her master's degree in kinesiology from Texas-Tyler in 2013. 
• As a player for the Lady Pilots before beginning her coaching career, Huizar started at the point guard position for LSUS in 2008-2010 after having transferred from Lon Morris Junior College in Texas.

SERIES WITH ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY rattlers

• Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 1-0.
• The only meeting between the two teams came in Topeka, Kan. on March 10, 2006 and was a 92-58 win for the Ichabods. 

ABOUT THE TEXAS A&M - KINGSVILLE JAVELINAS

• Texas A&M - Kingsville is off to an 0-2 start to the year after falling 54-46 to Westminster University last time out on Nov. 22. 
• The Javelinas have gone 0-1 in road games and 0-1 in neutral court games this season. They have not played at home this season. 
• Last season TAMUK went 18-12 overall and 13-9 inside the LSC, reaching the conference tournament semifinals where they fell to Lubbock Christian. 
• In 2025-26 the Javelinas  average 42.5 ppg with shooting splits of 33.3% from the floor, 21.7% from deep and 75.0% at the line. They also grab 29.5 rpg and give out 6.5 apg. Opponents are scoring 61.0 ppg on 40.7% shooting. 
• Texas A&M - Kingsville is 14th in the nation committing just 13.5 fouls per game. They are 6th in the LSC in both blocks per game and free throw percentage. 
• Justine Aguilar leads the team scoring 9.5 ppg while shooting 41.7% overall and 33.3% from three. She has come off the bench in both games logging 21.5 mpg while grabbing 4.5 rpg. Her 2.5 spg leads the team and is 5th in the LSC. 
• Addisyn Parker is scoring 7.0 ppg while playing 29.5 mpg and starting in both games. She is giving out 1.5 apg and making 1.5 spg. 
• Thalia Daniels chips in 6.0 ppg in 26.5 mpg. She is second on the team grabbing 7.0 rpg. 
• Caitlyn Benally leads the team grabbing 7.5 rpg and adds 3.5 ppg on 50.0% shooting. 

HEAD COACH MICHAEL MADRID

• Michael Madrid is in his 7th season as the head coach of Texas A&M - Kingsville where he has a 78-80 record. 
• He has coached 16 all-conference selections (11 in the past three years) for the Lone Star Conference
• Madrid began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Portales High Coach from 1998-2001, he would make a brief stop at Estacado High School for the 2002-03 season before joining Lubbock High School from 2003-05. He would receive his first collegiate coaching opportunity from Lubbock Christian University in 2005.
• Madrid earned a bachelor's degree in special education from Eastern New Mexico in 1998 before receiving his master's degree in sports administration in 2001.

SERIES WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - KINGSVILLE

• Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 1-0
• The only meeting between the two teams came on Dec. 16, 2003 and was an 88-57 win for the Ichabods in Las Vegas, Nev. 

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 1,014-508-1 (.667) all-time and are in the 57th 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 begin MIAA play in Lee Arena next week playing host to Nebraska Kearney at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. 
• Senior night for the Ichabods will be in the regular season finale on Feb. 28 against Missouri Southern at 3 p.m.
• The MIAA Basketball Championship Tournament will be held in Kansas City, Mo. at the Municipal Auditorium from March 3-8.