TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn departs from Topeka for the first time in four games as they exit conference play for the final time this regular season heading to Lawton, Okla. for the Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Classic taking on Western Colorado on Friday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. and Cameron on Saturday at 4 p.m. 
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn plays its final games of 2025 in the final regular season tournament of the year taking on Western Colorado and Cameron University in the Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Classic. 
• The Ichabods will face the Mountaineers at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19 in Lawton, Okla. as head coach Lora Westling faces her former squad. They wrap up the tournament by facing the host Aggies at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 in Aggie Gymnasium. 
• 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.   
• Northern Colorado enters the game with a 5-3 record overall and 3-1 record inside the RMAC. Cameron enters its tournament 0-9 overall and 0-3 inside the LSC. 

FAIRFIELD INN AND SUITES HOLIDAY CLASSIC

• The Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Classic consists of the Ichabods, Western Colorado, Pittsburg State and the host Cameron University. 
• All games will be played inside of Aggie Gymnasium in Lawton, Okla. 
• Live stats can be found for all games through the Washburn schedule.
• 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.  
• The Ichabods fell out of the most recent WBCA national poll. 
• As a team Washburn has shooting splits of 40.4% from the floor, 29.1% from deep and 68.2% at the free throw line to score 63.3 ppg. 
• They grab 37.4 rpg with 14.4 apg to 17.1 turnovers per contest. Defensively they average 9.8 spg with 3.3 bpg.  
• On the year opponents are averaging 57.2 ppg while shooting 37.3% from the floor and 24.7% from behind the 3-point line.  
• Washburn is 5-1 on the year inside the new Lee Arena, 2-1 in neutral court games and 0-1 in road contests.  
• Washburn connected from deep five times against Truman State to extend its streak with a made 3-pointer to 138 games.  

THE BLUE BUNCH

• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team in scoring at 12.9 ppg in just 23.3 mpg on the season. She has started in all nine games she has played in and leads the team grabbing 6.8 rpg while also shooting 55.7% from the floor. She swats away a team-high 1.1 bpg and has scored in double figures in six games. She is 1st in the MIAA and 28th nationally in field goal percentage. The senior is 6th in the conference in bpg and 10th in rpg.
• Payton Sterk is second on the team in scoring at 12.6 ppg on 36.0% overall and 30.4% from deep. She has starting every game playing 30.7 mpg, most on the team while also coming away with 1.8 spg, a team-high. She has drilled 17 triples, second most on the team and has scored 14+ points in five games this season. The senior ranks 7th in the MIAA in steals and 8th in total triples made. 
• Gabi Giovannetti has started all ten games for Washburn scoring 12.5 ppg on 43.5% shooting in 27.9 mpg of action. She is shooting a team-high 42.6% from deep with a team-high 20 3-pointers. She also brings down 3.8 rpg and is making 1.7 spg on the defensive end, second most on the team. The Shawnee, Kan. native is 2nd in the MIAA and 26th nationally in three-point percentage and 8th in the conference in triples per game. 
• Britany Kogbara sits fourth on the team in scoring at 8.7 ppg in just 15.8 mpg of action primarily coming off the bench with one start. She is shooting 59.4% from the floor, best on the team, while grabbing 3.4 rpg. Her four games scoring double figures off the bench lead the team. 
• Madelyn Amekporfor has started every game playing 26.3 mpg and scoring 6.4 ppg while shooting 39.3% from the floor. She is adding 3.3 rpg along with swiping 1.2 spg and swatting away 1.0 bpg, second most on the team. She is 8th in the MIAA in bpg. 
• Brooke Gomez has played in every game while making eight starts and is logging 19.2 mpg. She scores 2.4 ppg on 29.0% shooting and is dishing out a team-high 3.6 apg along with grabbing 3.0 rpg. She ranks 4th in the MIAA in assists per game. 
• Aniah Wayne has come off the bench in every game playing 17.8 mpg. She is scoring 4.7 ppg on 33.3% shooting from the floor. The senior also chips in 2.4 rpg and 0.7 spg. Her 10 rebounds last time out were a career high. 
• Kellyn Hunter has played in seven games while making two starts for the Ichabods and logging 19.6 mpg. She is coming away with 1.6 spg, third most on the team, dishes 3.1 apg and grabs 2.9 rpg. 
• Nia McKenzie has played 13.4 mpg off the bench in every game. She is scoring 1.9 ppg on 41.2% shooting with 3.1 rpg.
• Kennadi Jackson has come off the bench in eight games playing 4.9 mpg and scoring 0.8 ppg.
• Kylin Shipman has appeared in seven games for the Ichabods logging 9.7 mpg and scoring 0.6 ppg. 
• Willow Gideon has played in four games logging 5.0 mpg. She is scoring 2.8 ppg.
• Lauren Luebbert has come off the bench in five games playing 5.8 mpg. She is scoring 0.6 ppg with 0.6 spg.  
• Cloie Jansky has appeared in four games off the bench logging 2.8 mpg and grabbing 1.0 rpg. 

STAT STACKING

• Washburn 36th in the nation at protecting the three-point line holding opponents to a 24.7% clip from beyond the arc, best in the MIAA. 
• Holding opponents to 57.2 ppg overall the Ichabods are 40th nationally and second in the MIAA in scoring defense. 
• Dishing out 14.4 apg the Ichabods are 78th nationally and 5th in the MIAA at sharing the ball. 
• With a 0.84 assist to turnover ratio they are 97th in the nation and 6th in the MIAA. 
• Outscoring opponents by 6.1 ppg, the Ichabods have the 101st best scoring margin in the nation. 
• Washburn is making with 3.3 rejections per game, putting them 83rd in the nation and 7th among MIAA opponents. 

ADVANCED STATS

• Washburn has a team offensive rating of 89.0 and defensive rating of 80.4 based on averages per 100 possessions. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team among qualified players in rebounding percentage at 16.2%. 
• Nia McKenzie is second on the team grabbing 12.9% of rebounds when on the floor. 
• Brooke Gomez has the highest assist percentage on the team at 33.3% of assists while on the floor. 
• Kellyn Hunter has the second highest mark at 26.6%. 
• Britany Kogbara has the highest true shooting percentage on the team at 59.3% when adding in free throw percentage and 3-pointers. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah is second on the team at 58.1%. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 253 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is 4th in program history at creating extra opportunities. In overall rebounding she is 10th with 684 career boards. 
• Her career field goal percentage of .578 is the 2nd best in program history. In scoring she ranks 15th among all Ichabods with 1,108 career points. 
• Nwidadah is also tied for 11th in program history with 68 career blocked shots. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is 8th in program history with 132 career 3-pointers made. She is tied for 19th among all Ichabods with 54 blocked shots. 
• Payton Sterk currently sits tied for 24th in program history with 79 3-pointers made in just 41 career games with Washburn. Her career percentage from deep of 36.1% is 15 in program history.
• With 54 career blocked shots Madelyn Amekporfor is tied for 19th 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 49-49 record with Washburn and is 126-127 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 68, Truman State 52  (December 16, 2025)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn wrapped up the 2025 calendar year inside Lee Arena with a 68-52 win over Truman State on Tuesday night using a 41-point second half. The Ichabods head to Oklahoma for the Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Classic tournament facing Western Colorado in Lawton on Friday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m.  

Early offense built a lead in the opening minutes for Washburn (7-3, 2-1 MIAA) as they led 9-6 after Britany Kogbara got a layup to go. The next six points went to the Bulldogs (4-6, 2-1 GLVC) to go in front. The Ichabods finished the half on a 5-0 run and leading 16-14 with Aniah Wayne stepping off the bench and hitting a 3-pointer in the final minute of the quarter.  

The run continued in the second quarter with Washburn extending the lead to 21-14 after Gabi Giovannetti connected from deep. The Ichabod offense went cold and was held scoreless for the next five minutes as Truman State pulled within two. The lead went back to the Bulldogs in the final minute before half as they went into the locker room leading 28-27 after both teams shot under 30.0% in the half.  

Washburn came out of the break with the first five points to go in front. The lead quickly grew to double digits with a triple by Madelyn Amekporfor at the 3:26 mark as part of a 15-0 run. The Ichabods shot 8-15 in the quarter while holding the Bulldogs to 25.0% shooting and led 47-35 heading to the fourth.  

The offense continued to churn in the fourth, with the lead reaching 20 points at the 3:37 mark after Kogbara got another layup in the paint to go. The lead reached as high as 24 points with Washburn delivering a second straight 20+ point quarter, going on to win 68-52. 

After a 41-point second half the Ichabods shot 43.5% for the game and 5-21 from deep while holding the Bulldogs to 18-57 (31.6%) shooting overall. The rebounding battle was won 44-29 by Washburn, which led 42-24 in paint scoring as well.  

Four players scored in double figures for the Ichabods led by 18 points on 9-12 shooting by Britany Kogbara who added five rebounds and two blocks. Madelyn Amekporfor had 13 on 6-9 shooting. Aniah Wayne scored seven while adding a career-high 10 rebounds and swiping four steals. Gabi Giovannetti chipped in 12 points while Payton Sterk had 10.  

Emajin McCallop led Truman State with 24 points and six steals in the game.  

ABOUT THE WESTERN COLORADO MOUNTAINEERS

• Western Colorado moved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 inside the RMAC after defeating Regis 62-53 last time out at home on Dec. 13. 
• The Mountaineers have gone 3-0 inside of Paul Wright Gym, 1-3 on the road and are 1-0 in neutral court games. 
• Last season Western Colorado went 21-8 overall and 15-5 inside of the RMAC. They advanced to the semifinal round of the RMAC Tournament where their season came to an end. 
• So far on the year the Mountaineers average 64.1 ppg with shooting splits of 41.0% from the floor, 33.7% from deep and 69.3% at the line. They also grab 40.1 rpg with 11.8 apg. Opponents are scoring 61.6 ppg on 35.9% shooting. 
• Western Colorado is first in the RMAC in three-point percentage and in defensive rebounds per game. They are second in the conference in FG% defense and blocks per game. 
• Ivey Schmidt is scoring a team-high 19.5 ppg on 38.9% shooting overall and 39.4% from deep. She has started in all eight games playing 35.0 mpg and also grabs a team-high 7.6 rpg with 3.0 apg. She ranks 27th in the nation in ppg. 
• Jayda Maves is scoring 13.3 ppg in 34.0 mpg and starting in all eight games. She is shooting 51.9% from the floor and a team-best 43.8% from deep with 21 made triples, also tops on the team. She adds 1.4 spg and 3.3 rpg. She is 23rd in the nation in 3-point percentage and 28th in 3-pointers per game. 
• Alyssa Eckroth is scoring 11.9 ppg in 30.5 mpg while starting in all eight games. She is shooting 34.6% from the floor and is grabbing 4.4 rpg. 
• Penelope Urquhart is second on the team with 7.0 rpg in 26.5 mpg. She has played in all eight games with six starts and is adding 5.5 ppg and 1.1 spg. 
• Chloe Daniels chips in 4.0 ppg and grabs 4.9 rpg on a team-high 58.3% shooting from the floor in 23.5 mpg. 

HEAD COACH ADAM JACOBSON

• Is in year four as the head coach at Western Colorado where he has a 39-53 record. 
• Jacobson spent the past two seasons as the women's head coach at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton, N.D. The Wildcats posted an overall record of 44-12 over his two seasons of leadership
• Prior to his stay at NDSCS, Jacobson accumulated 11 years as an assistant coach with stints at University of Mary (2018-20 and 2012-14), University of N.D. (2014-18), Gillette College (Wyo.) (2011-12), University of Jamestown (N.D.) (2008-09, men's assistant), Augustana (S.D.) University (2007-08, men's graduate assistant), and Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College (2006-07, men's assistant).
• National tournament appearances at NDSCS (1), Univ. of N.D. (3), Augustana (1)

SERIES WITH WESTERN COLORADO

• Friday's game will be the first ever meeting between the two programs. 

ABOUT THE CAMERON AGGIES

• Cameron enters the tournament with an 0-9 record after falling to 0-3 inside the LSC with a 61-45 loss to Lubbock Christian last time out on Dec. 13. 
• The Aggies are 0-2 inside of Aggie Gym this season, 0-6 on the road and 0-1 in neutral court games. 
• Last season Cameron went 8-18 overall, 6-16 inside the LSC and missed out on the conference tournament. 
• So far on the year the Aggies average 57.9 ppg with shooting splits of 35.3% from the floor, 33.5% from deep and 61.1% at the line. They also grab 30.4 rpg with 9.4 apg. Opponents are scoring 79.8 ppg on 41.3% shooting. 
• Cameron is 2nd in the LSC in three point attempts per game while ranking 4th in both three-pointers made and three-point percentage. 
• Madison Griggs leads the team in scoring at 18.5 ppg on a team-high 40.5% shooting from the floor. She has started all eight games she has played in while grabbing 3.4 rpg and dishing out 2.3 apg. She is 32nd in the nation in ppg and first in the LSC. 
• Kloe Heidebrecht is scoring 11.7 ppg on 37.4% shooting overall and a team-high 38.9% from deep. She has drilled a team-high 28 3-pointers in 31.3 mpg while starting in all nine games. She also snags a team-high 1.2 spg. She is 9th in the nation in 3-pointers per game and 59th in the nation. 
• Emmary Elizondo is scoring 5.7 ppg in 32.6 mpg across all nine games. She is giving out a team-high 3.2 apg while grabbing 3.4 rpg. 
• Amina Diallo is third on the team in scoring at 6.2 ppg in just 20.3 mpg while playing in nine games and starting in three. She is grabbing 2.4 rpg and making 1.1 spg. 

HEAD COACH JEFFREY MAHONEY

• Is in his 4th season as the head coach at Cameron where he has a 32-60 record. 
• In addition to his time as the assistant coach for the women, Mahoney also took the reins of the men's team halfway through the 2021-22 season after the resigning of the previous coach. During that time, he earned his 300th win as a men's basketball coach
• Mahoney came to Cameron after spending the past three seasons at Harrah HS in Harrah, Okla. as the head girls' basketball coach.
• Prior to his time at Harrah, Mahoney spent time at the collegiate level as part of the Northwestern Oklahoma State coaching staff; he was the assistant women's basketball coach and interim head coach from Nov. 2015 to April 2016.
• Mahoney graduated from Cameron in 1986 with a Bachelor's of Science in Health and Physical Education. He was a two-year letter winner for the CU baseball team and graduated from Roosevelt HS in Roosevelt, Okla.  

SERIES WITH CAMERON

• Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 6-0.
• The Ichabods are 2-0 on the road in program history against Cameron. 
• The series began on Dec. 7, 2002 with a 64-54 win for Washburn in Springfield, Mo. 
• The two teams have not met since a Dec. 18, 2007 meeting that saw the Ichabods win 57-45 in Miami, Fla. 
• Washburn averages 73.5 ppg all-time against the Aggies. 

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 1,020-510-1 (.666) 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 return to action next in 2026 as they will play host to Emporia State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 3. 
• 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.