TOPEKA, Kan. -- After a week at home Washburn will hit the road for the final week of the regular season beginning with a trip to Pittsburg to take on the No. 10 Gorillas for the first time this season on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. 
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn women's basketball begins the final week of the regular season facing No. 10 Pittsburg State. 
• The Ichabods will face the Gorillas on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. inside John Lance Arena. 
• Washburn is 16-11 on the year and 10-7 in the MIAA after defeating Rogers State 64-52 last time out on Saturday, Feb. 22. They secured a winning season both overall and inside the MIAA with the victory.
• The last time the Ichabods had a winning season was 2019-20 when they went 18-12 overall and 11-8 in conference play. 
• They are 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. They are ranked No. 6 in the latest KPI standings which are used for seeding in the MIAA Tournament.
• Pittsburg State fell for the first time in conference play, moving to 24-3 overall and 16-1 in the MIAA after losing 76-60 to No. 7 Fort Hays State on Saturday. 

BODS AND BITS

• Washburn returns seven letterwinners from last season's roster while adding seven total new faces with five incoming freshmen and two junior transfers rounding out the 14-player roster.  
• The five freshmen are flanked by three sophomores and a junior class that is six players deep. It is the first roster without a senior going back to the 1980's.  
• The Ichabods are scoring 73.1 ppg on 44.8% shooting overall and 32.3% from behind the arc. 
• They are grabbing 38.0 rpg while giving out 13.6 apg. On the defensive end they come away with 7.7 spg and swat away 3.0 bpg. 
• Opponents average 65.8 ppg on 40.3% shooting and 30.1% from deep. 
• Washburn went 9-2 inside of Lee Arena and has gone 5-7 in road contests and 2-2 in neutral court games.  
• Washburn made five triples against Rogers State to extend its streak with a made 3-pointer to 124 games. 
• Wednesday's contest against Pittsburg State will be the 95th meeting between the two teams. 

BLUE REPORT

• Payton Sterk leads the Ichabods scoring at 17.0 ppg while starting all 27 contests and playing a team-high 31.3 mpg. She is shooting 43.8% from the floor and a team-high 40.4% from deep while dishing out 2.3 apg and grabbing 3.4 rpg. The Colorado Springs native has drilled a team-high 61 3-pointers. She has 15+ points in 15 games this year including five of the last six. Sterk is 2nd in the MIAA in total points, 3rd in 3-point percentage and ranks fourth in total 3-pointers. She is top-50 nationally in all three categories including 15th in 3-point percentage.
• Yiibari Nwidadah is second on the team offensively scoring 16.6 ppg while shooting a team-high 66.0% from the field. She grabs a team-best 7.6 rpg and swats away 0.9 bpg. The junior has started all 25 games she has played in logging 27.8 mpg. She has shot at or above 50.0% in all but three games and has six double-doubles. The Olathe, Kan. native has the second best field goal percentage in the nation while ranking 5th in the MIAA in ppg, 5th in rpg and 10th in bpg. She has 15+ points in 15 games this year. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is third on the team in scoring at 11.3 ppg while shooting 40.1% from the floor. The junior has started all 27 games playing 27.7 mpg. She is adding 3.0 rpg with 2.3 apg while snagging 1.1 spg. She is second on the team with 43 made triples. Among MIAA players she is 9th in total 3-pointers and 12th in triples per game. 
• Madelyn Amekporfor is scoring 7.1 ppg on 44.5% shooting while starting 25 of 26 games that she has appeared in, logging 25.8 mpg. She is grabbing 5.1 rpg while adding 2.0 apg. On the defensive end she comes away with a team-high 1.2 spg and 0.9 bpg. 
• Brooke Gomez has played in all 27 games making 26 starts in her freshman season logging 20.9 mpg. She averages 4.7 ppg while adding 3.1 rpg and 1.1 spg. Her 2.9 apg are a team-high. 
• Aniah Wayne is scoring 6.1 ppg in 17.8 mpg off the bench while playing in 25 games. She is shooting 35.4% from the floor while adding 2.9 rpg. Her six games with double figure scoring off the bench leads the team. 
• Amaya Davison has played in all 27 games and started two logging 15.4 mpg. She scoring 3.8 ppg on 42.0% shooting while giving out 1.2 apg and grabbing 1.5 rpg. 
• Nia McKenzie has played in 25 games while making one start averaging 15.0 mpg. She is grabbing 3.8 rpg and scoring 3.5 ppg on 46.0% shooting. 
• Rebecca Snyder has played in 16 games with two starts logging 11.1 mpg and scoring 2.3 ppg with 2.1 rpg.  
• Emajin McCallop has played in 21 games scoring 1.1 ppg across 8.2 mpg.  
• Willow Gideon has played 6.9 mpg across 14 appearances while scoring 2.9 ppg on 48.1% shooting. 
• Lauren Luebbert has logged 7.1 mpg of action in 16 appearances off the bench. 
• Cloie Jansky has played in six games scoring 2.0 ppg in 4.8 mpg. 

STAT STACKING

• The Ichabods are shooting 44.8% from the floor as a team, third best in the conference and 19th in the nation. 
• Washburn is 33rd nationally scoring 73.1 ppg, fifth highest mark in the conference. 
• With a scoring margin of +7.3 they have the fourth best mark in the conference and 69th in the nation.
• In overall rebound margin Washburn ranks 44th nationally and fourth in the MIAA at +5.6.
• Giving out 13.6 apg the Ichabods are fifth in the conference and 94th nationally when it comes to sharing the rock. 
• With 38.00 rpg the Ichabods are sixth in the MIAA at cleaning the glass.
• Washburn attacks the basket and gets to the line averaging 22.15 free throw attempts per game, 2nd most in the MIAA and 18th in the nation.

ADVANCED STATS

• Brooke Gomez has the highest AST% on the team as she accounts for 24.2% of all assists when on the floor. Gabi Giovannetti is second at 16.7%. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah grabs 15.7% of total rebounds when on the floor, a team high. Nia McKenzie is second at 14.6%. 
• Payton Sterk's true shooting percentage is 57.8% taking into account free throws and an extra point on 3-pointers. She has the biggest jump of any player from standard field goal percentage. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah has the highest true shooting percentage at 65.5%. 
• Washburn has a team offensive rating of 100.1 ppg and a defensive rating of 90.1 ppg which are based on per 100 possessions. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 216 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is tied for 6th in program history. She needs seven more rebounds to enter the top-five. In overall rebounds she is 14th in Washburn history with 582. 
• Her career field goal percentage of .591 is the best in program history. In scoring she ranks tied for 33rd with 919 career points. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is tied for 15th in program history with 108 career 3-pointers made. 
• Payton Sterk currently sits 9th in single-season three-point percentage in program history shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc. 
• In single-season 3-pointers made she is 14th with 61 so far this season.

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 40-44 record with Washburn and is 117-122 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 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

Washburn 64, Rogers State 62  (February 22, 2025)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn closed out its time in Lee Arena for the 2024-25 season with a 64-52 win over Rogers State on Saturday afternoon, marking its third straight victory. The Ichabods will head on the road for the final week of the regular season beginning with Pittsburg State at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26.  

The Hillcats (7-19, 1-16 MIAA) jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead but the next nine points were all scored by Washburn (16-11, 10-7 MIAA), going in front 11-5 at the 6:07 mark after Gabi Giovannetti got a jumper to fall. The Ichabod offense worked efficiently in the first, shooting 8-15 to lead 20-13 after one.  

Washburn pushed the lead into double digits after a free throw by Giovannetti early in the second. Both teams traded baskets the rest of the way as the Ichabod offense cooled off from the first quarter. Rogers State cut the lead down to just five points at the 3:22 mark and once again with just over a minute left in the half. Brooke Gomez ended the frame with a driving layup to make it 31-24 after 20 minutes.  

Two straight baskets by Payton Sterk, the second a steal and score, began a 6-0 run that put the Ichabods in front by 14 at the 5:24 mark in the third. Washburn got to the line, shooting eight free throws in the quarter and making six to keep the lead in double digits into the final two minutes. The Hillcats went on a 4-0 run in the final 35 seconds of the half to pull within eight at 48-40 going into the fourth.  

After Rogers State got the first basket in the final frame the Ichabods responded with a 6-0 run beginning with a layup by Sterk. Washburn was held scoreless for the next 3:43 as the Hillcats pulled within six points. It took only 78 seconds for the Ichabods to get the six points back with Sterk and Nwidadah each accounting for three to lead by 12 with 2:25 to play. That is what the deficit would be at the final buzzer with Sterk and Emajin McCollum sinking free throws down the stretch, securing the 64-52 win.  

Washburn shot 43.1% (22-51) for the game and was 15-24 at the free throw line, generating 13 more attempts than the visitors. Rogers State shot 22-55 (40.0%) overall, but was just 2-17 from beyond the arc, with both makes coming in the first half.  

Rebounding went in favor of the Ichabods 37-29, while both teams were able to turn the other over as Washburn had 20 giveaways and the Hillcats 18. Both teams were even in paint scoring, with 32 each, while the Ichabods had 11 second chance points and allowed just five.  

Payton Sterk led the way with her second straight 20-point game, scoring 24 on 8-16 shooting with three steals. Brooke Gomez scored eight points and grabbed a career and game-high 11 rebounds while also giving out five assists. Yiibari Nwidadah scored 11 points and grabbed six boards.  

Alyza Aikins scored 13 to lead Rogers State while Jaiana Wiggins added 11 with three blocks.  

ABOUT THE PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS

• After losing 76-60 on the road to No. 7 Fort Hays State last time out Pittsburg State is 24-3 overall and 16-1 inside the MIAA. 
• They are ranked No. 10 in the latest WBCA poll. 
• Last season the Gorillas went 24-8 overall and 15-7 inside the MIAA, they won the MIAA Championship Tournament and fell in the first round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament. 
• This season, Pittsburg State is 10-0 inside of John Lance Arena while going 10-2 in road contests and 4-1 in neutral court games. 
• The Gorillas average 79.7 ppg on 48.1% shooting while allowing 63.0 ppg to opponents. They pull down 41.3 rpg while dishing out 17.3 apg.  
• They are first in the nation in FG% while ranking first in the conference in rebounding margin and scoring offense. They are top-50 in the nation in all three along with turnovers per game and assists per game.
• Karenna Gerber leads the team in scoring at 15.9 ppg while playing just 23.4 mpg. She is shooting a team-high 57.9% from the floor and also grabs 8.3 rpg while making 1.3 bpg. She is 10th in the nation in FG%, 3rd in the MIAA in rpg and 5th in total points. 
• Grace Pyle is scoring 15.1 ppg on 45.7% shooting and 36.8% from deep. She also adds 4.2 rpg and 3.3 apg. She has made a team-high 67 3-pointers. She is third in the MIAA in total 3-pointers while ranking fifth in percentage. 
• Macie Mays scores 14.1 ppg on 51.0% shooting across 28. mpg. She also grabs 4.0 rpg and shoots 34.8% from deep. 
• Harper Schreiner adds 8.0 ppg while shooting 49.1% overall and a team-high 44.1% from deep. She also leads the team with 4.7 apg and grabs 4.7 rpg. Her assist to turnover ratio is second best in the nation and she is 4th in the MIAA in assists. 
• Sydney Holmes scores 6.2 ppg on 43.2% shooting overall and 41.1% from deep. She also adds 3.7 rpg and 2.3 apg. 

HEAD COACH AMANDA DAVIED

• Is in her seventh season leading the Pittsburg State women's basketball program. She has a 115-58 record through her first six seasons.
• Davied, who served the previous 14 seasons as the assistant coach for her alma mater, replaced her former mentor, Lane Lord, who accepted the head coach position at NCAA Division I member University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
• During her tenure on the Pitt State staff (2004-present), the Gorillas have compiled a 398-218 overall record (.646), capturing an MIAA regular season title in 2017, MIAA tournament title in 2024 and making eight trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament
• Davied earned her bachelor's degree in physical education from Pittsburg State in December 2003. She completed her master's degree in physical education in December 2008.

LAST TIME VERSUS ROGERS STATE

Washburn 75, Pittsburg State 62  (January 20, 2024)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn used a strong second quarter to take an early lead over No. 25 Pittsburg State and held on down the stretch to win 75-62 Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods leave Lee Arena and head to face Fort Hays State on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m.  

Offenses for both teams were scoring well early, Washburn (11-6, 6-5 MIAA) created some separation with a 9-0 run sparked by a 3-pointer from Mackenzie Gamble and capped off by a layup from Aubree Dewey with 4:32 left in the quarter. The Gorillas (12-5, 6-5 MIAA) reeled off the next nine points and were in front 18-17 heading into the second quarter.  

Pitt State created a four point lead in the second quarter before Washburn's offense got going. The Ichabods shot 7-13 overall in the second quarter and added additional scoring going 8-8 from the free throw line. After the Gorillas went up 28-27 with 5:07 left Washburn scored the next 12 points over four minutes of action, capped off by a 3-pointer from Dewey. That would be the final lead change for the game with the Ichabods controlling a 41-32 lead going into halftime.  

Pittsburg State came out of halftime scoring, and was able to get the lead down to just three points at the 3:51 mark in the quarter. A 3-pointer by Aniah Wayne settled the run down and sparked a 7-0 burst from Ichabods. Both teams scored an even 13 points in the third quarter to keep Washburn's lead at nine heading into the fourth.  

Once again the Gorillas had a quick start to a quarter, cutting the lead down to five with 7:19 left. Every score for the visitors was answered by Washburn, a layup by Yiibari Niwdadah with four minutes left kicked off a 10-0 run for the home team which was capped off by a steal and score by Madelyn Amekporfor. The Ichabods held on down the stretch, pushing the lead up to as many as 17 before winning 75-62.  

Washburn shot 43.1% for the game while going 17-20 (85%) at the line. They held the Gorillas to 25-61 shooting and the visitors shot just 5-20 behind the arc. The Ichabods reeled off 18 fast break points while holding Pitt State scoreless in fast break opportunities. Washburn also won the turnover battle 20 to 15.  

Aubree Dewey scored over 20 for the third time in her last four contests going for 23 on 8-14 shooting . Yiibari Nwidadah was strong on both ends with a 15 point and 14 rebound double double along with a pair of blocks and steals. Aniah Wayne knocked down four triples on her way to scoring 14 points.  

Karenna Gerber led the Gorillas with 18 points on 7-14 shooting, Macie Mays had 15 and went 7-9 from the field.  

SERIES HISTORY WITH PITTSBURG STATE

• Washburn leads the all-time series against Pittsburg State 56-38. 
• They are 23-23 against the Gorillas in Pittsburg. 
• The series began on January 18, 1975 with a 101-36 win for the Ichabods in Topeka. 
• Washburn won the only meeting last season, 75-62 in Lee Arena on Jan. 20. 
• The Ichabods average 67.65 ppg all-time against the Gorillas.

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 1,011-505-1 (.667) all-time and are in the 56th year of the program's history. They became the 11th team to reach 1,000 wins on Dec. 16 after defeating Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.  
• 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 finish out the regular season in Joplin, Mo. against Missouri Southern on Saturday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m.
• The MIAA Basketball Championship Tournament will be held in Kansas City, Mo. at the Municipal Auditorium from March 5-9.