TOPEKA, Kan. -- After a week at home Washburn women's basketball is back on the road for two weeks beginning with a Thursday night meeting with No. 5 Fort Hays State inside of Gross Memorial Coliseum beginning at 5:30. 
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn leaves home and begins a three-game road trip facing No. 5 Fort Hays State. 
• The Ichabods take on the Tigers at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29 inside of Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.
• 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.   

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 40.7% from the floor, 31.5% from deep and 70.7% at the free throw line to score 64.8 ppg. 
• They grab 37.6 rpg with 13.3 apg to 16.9 turnovers per contest. Defensively they average 9.2 spg with 2.5 bpg.  
• On the year opponents are averaging 55.9 ppg while shooting 36.0% from the floor and 26.8% from behind the 3-point line.  
• Washburn is 8-1 on the year inside the new Lee Arena, 3-1 in neutral court games and 3-3 in road contests.  
• Washburn connected on eight triples on Friday night against Missouri Western, extending its streak with a made 3-pointer to 146 games. 
• Fort Hays State improved to 18-1 and 9-1 inside the MIAA with a 78-65 win over Central Oklahoma last time out for an 11th straight win since losing to the Ichabods. 

THE BLUE BUNCH

• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team scoring 12.8 ppg in just 23.1 mpg on the season. She has started in all 18 games she has played in and leads the team grabbing 7.9 rpg while also shooting 55.9% from the floor, tops on the team as well. She has scored in double figures in 12 games with five double-doubles. She is 2nd in the MIAA and 19th nationally in field goal percentage while ranking 7th in the MIAA in rpg.
• Payton Sterk is second on the team in scoring at 12.2 ppg on 37.1% overall and 33.3% from deep. She has started every game playing 31.4 mpg, most on the team while also coming away with 1.5 spg, second most on the team. She has drilled a team-high 33 triples and has scored 14+ points in nine games this season. The senior ranks 7th in the MIAA in 3-pointers.
• Gabi Giovannetti has started all 19 games for Washburn scoring 10.6 ppg on 42.0% shooting in 27.6 mpg of action. She is shooting a team-high 40.8% from deep and is second on the team with 29 3-pointers. She also brings down 4.2 rpg and is making 1.8 spg, most on the team. The Shawnee, Kan. native is 6th in the MIAA in steals and 13th in 3-pointers. 
• Britany Kogbara sits fourth on the team in scoring at 7.4 ppg in just 16.3 mpg of action playing in every game with one start. She is shooting 54.9% from the floor, second best on the team, while grabbing 3.6 rpg. Her six games scoring double figures off the bench lead the team and she is 14th in the MIAA in blocks. 
• Madelyn Amekporfor has started every game playing 23.8 mpg and scoring 6.2 ppg while shooting 39.6% from the floor. She is adding 3.1 rpg along with swiping 1.0 spg and swatting away 0.7 bpg.
• Brooke Gomez has played in every game while making 17 starts and is logging 17.9 mpg. She scores 3.1 ppg on 36.2% shooting and is dishing out a team-high 3.0 apg along with grabbing 2.4 rpg. She ranks 8th in the MIAA in assists per game and 7th in assist to turnover ratio.
• Aniah Wayne has come off the bench in every game playing 20.3 mpg. She is scoring 6.4 ppg on 36.1% shooting from the floor and 33.3% from deep. The senior also chips in 2.3 rpg and 0.8 spg.
• Kellyn Hunter has played in 16 games while making two starts for the Ichabods and is logging 16.8 mpg. She scores 2.8 ppg while grabbing 2.7 rpg and making 1.1 spg. 
• Nia McKenzie has played 13.8 mpg off the bench in every game. She is scoring 1.9 ppg on 32.4% shooting with 2.8 rpg.
• Kennadi Jackson has come off the bench in 16 games playing 6.9 mpg and scoring 1.2 ppg.
• Willow Gideon has played in eight games logging 4.0 mpg. She is scoring 1.0 ppg.
• Kylin Shipman has appeared in 12 games for the Ichabods of the bench logging 8.3 mpg.
• Lauren Luebbert has come off the bench in ten contests, playing 5.5 mpg and scoring 0.6 ppg.
• Cloie Jansky has appeared in eight games off the bench logging 2.9 mpg and scoring 1.3 ppg. 

STAT STACKING

• Washburn 51st in the nation at protecting the three-point line holding opponents to a 26.8% clip from beyond the arc, best in the MIAA. 
• Holding opponents to 55.9 ppg overall the Ichabods are 29th nationally and first in the MIAA in scoring defense. 
• With opponents shooting 36.0% from the floor, Washburn is 3rd in the conference and 38th in the nation in field goal percentage defense.
• Forcing 18.79 turnovers per game the Ichabods lead the conference and are 87th nationally at creating giveaways. 
• With a +3.9 rebounding margin Washburn is 7th among conference teams and 70th in the nation. 
• Outscoring opponents by 8.9 ppg, the Ichabods have the 70th best scoring margin in the nation and 5th among MIAA teams.

ADVANCED STATS

• Washburn has a team offensive rating of 90.7 and defensive rating of 78.2 based on averages per 100 possessions. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team among qualified players in rebounding percentage at 19.6%. 
• Britany Kogbara is second on the team grabbing 12.6% of rebounds when on the floor, second highest on the team. 
• Brooke Gomez has the highest assist percentage on the team at 31.9% of assists while on the floor. 
• Kellyn Hunter has the second highest mark at 21.9%. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah has the highest true shooting percentage on the team at 59.4% when adding in free throw percentage and 3-pointers. 
• Britany Kogbara is second on the team at 56.1%. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 280 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is 3rd in program history at creating extra opportunities. In overall rebounding she is fifth with 765 career boards. 
• Her career field goal percentage of .577 is the 3rd best in program history. In scoring she ranks 13th among all Ichabods with 1,222 career points. 
• Nwidadah is also 11th in program history with 69 career blocked shots. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is 8th in program history with 141 career 3-pointers made. She is 20th among all Ichabods with 55 blocked shots. 
• Payton Sterk currently sits 17th in program history with 95 3-pointers made in just 50 career games with Washburn. Her career percentage from deep of 36.3% is 15th in program history.
• Sterk's career free throw percentage of 85.8% is the best for any Ichabod. 
• With 57 career blocked shots Madelyn Amekporfor is 18th in program history at coming away with rejections. 

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 56-51 record with Washburn and is 133-129 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 71, Missouri Western  55 (January 23, 2026)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- It was cold outside but Washburn was loose from the start on Friday afternoon, scoring 47 points in the first half to down Missouri Western 71-55 and earn a fourth straight win. The Ichabods will take the win streak on the road to face Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29.  

It was the Griffons (6-13, 2-8 MIAA) that took an early 9-7 lead with a pair of 3-pointers. Washburn (14-5, 7-3 MIAA) answered back with an 8-0 run and five points coming from Payton Sterk who had 20 in the first half. The Ichabods shot 50.0% in the first quarter and ended the final minute on a 4-0 run to lead 21-14 after one.  

The run continued with the first four points in the second quarter coming for the home team, pushing the lead to double-figures. A quick 5-0 burst was capped off by a 3-pointer for Gabi Giovannetti that pushed the lead up over 20 points. While Washburn shot over 50.0% again in the second, Missouri Western was held to just 2-8 shooting in the frame as the Ichabods built a 47-24 lead.  

Out of the break Washburn's offense cooled off as they were held scoreless until Kellyn Hunter knocked down a jumper with 4:24 left in the quarter. She hit another to push the lead back over 20 points the next possession. The Ichabod defense helped maintain the lead with the Griffons shooting just 4-11 in the quarter.  

The visitors offense picked up in the fourth scoring the first 10 points to make it a single-digit game with 6:38 remaining. Britany Kogbara got a pair of buckets to fall over the next few possessions to push the lead back into double digits. Missouri Western knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:06 remaining but that was the last time they would get on the scoreboard. The Ichabods finished the game on a 6-0 run to put away a 71-55 win.  

The hot start helped Washburn shoot 40.7% for the game along with 8-17 (47.1%) from deep. They also were 19-22 at the line to complete an efficient day. On the other end the Griffons shot 16-49 overall and just 4-17 from three-point land while getting to the line 29 times and knocking down 19.  

The Ichabods narrowly lost the turnover battle 34-33 but held a 20-15 advantage in turnovers. Those turnovers generated 17 points for Washburn to just nine for the visitors. Bench scoring also favored the home squad 28-2.  

Payton Sterk finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-14 shooing and four triples. Britany Kogbara had 10 points with a pair of steals and Kelly Hunter scored nine with three assists. Gabi Giovannetti and Aniah Wayne each chipped in nine.  

Mia Morel and Ana Dias Oliveira each scored 15 to lead Missouri Western.  

ABOUT THE FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS

• Fort Hays State enters the game with a 18-1 mark overall and a 9-1 record inside the MIAA. They have won 11 in a row after defeating Central Oklahoma 78-65 last time out. 
• The Tigers are 7-0 this year inside of Gross Memorial Coliseum, 6-1 on the road and 5-0 in neutral court games.
• Last season Fort Hays State went 28-5 overall and 16-3 in the MIAA. They fell in the MIAA Tournament Championship and in the semifinal round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament. 
• They are ranked No. 5 in the latest WBCA National Poll. 
• So far on the year the Tigers average 78.1 ppg with shooting splits of 48.3% from the floor, 36.6% from deep and 75.2% at the line. They also grab 41.5 rpg with 20.3 apg. Opponents are scoring 61.8 ppg on 35.7% shooting. 
• Fort Hays State leads the nation in both assists per game and defensive rebounds per game. They are 2nd nationally in assist to turnover ratio while ranking 4th in FG%.
• Talexa Weeter leads the Tigers scoring 27.9 ppg on 52.1% shooting overall and 42.9% from deep while playing 34.3 mpg and starting in every game. She also grabs a team-high 9.1 rpg and makes 1.4 spg. She leads the nation in ppg, is 2nd nationally in free throws made and is 2nd in the conference and 46th nationally in rpg. 
• Brooke Loewe is scoring 8.6 ppg on 45.7% shooting while starting all 19 games. She leads the team and the nation with 10.2 apg while also grabbing 5.3 rpg and making 2.1 spg defensively. She is 1st in the MIAA and 12th nationally in assist to turnover ratio, shes also 3rd in the conference in spg. 
• Olivia Mortensen has started every game playing 29.2 mpg. She averages 13.0 ppg on 51.0% shooting and 40.0% from deep. She comes down with 4.9 rpg and gives out 1.7 apg along with 1.3 spg. She is 11th in the conference in total points and 14th in blocks.
• Ellie Stearns is scoring 7.6 ppg on 35.4% shooting while starting all 17 games she has played. She is shooting 33.0% from deep with 30 made 3-pointers, second most on the team. She also grabs 4.4 rpg and is making 1.2 spg. She is 8th in the MIAA in total 3-pointers.
• Avery Lowe rounds out the starting five chipping in 6.0 ppg on 50.0% shooting from the floor. She grabs 3.5 rpg in her 18.6 mpg. 

HEAD COACH TALIA KAHRS

• Is in her 3rd season at the helm of the Fort Hays State program where she has a 71-14 record. 
• She served as an assistant coach on the Tiger staff for 11 seasons before being promoted to the head spot. 
• Before being an assistant she was a three-year member of the Fort Hays State team as a player. She joined the Tigers from Hastings College. 
• She earned her bachelor's degree in Health and Human Performance with an emphasis in Teaching and Coaching from Fort Hays State in 2012 before completing a master of science degree at FHSU in 2015. 

LAST TIME VERSUS FORT HAYS STATE

Washburn 67, Fort Hays State 64 (December 6, 2025)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn achieved its highest ranked victory in more than 10 years on Saturday afternoon with a 67-64 thriller to knock off No. 3 Fort Hays State 67-64 and hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. The Ichabods have a week off and stay at home before playing host to Central Missouri next Saturday, December 13 at 1 p.m. 

It was a game of runs early on with Washburn (6-2, 2-0 MIAA) throwing the first punch as the lead 8-1 after Yiibari Nwidadah got a shot inside to go. Fort Hays State (7-1, 1-1 MIAA) answered with the next 18 points in the game to lead 19-8. The Ichabods finished the opening quarter by scoring the final four points as they weathered the storm while shooting 4-18 from the field.  

The Tigers opened the second quarter by extending the lead back to 11 points at 28-17 with 6:28 to play. Shots started to fall for Washburn with an 8-0 run that included two buckets by Britany Kogbara inside. The game was tied in the final minute of the second quarter after a 3-pointer by Gabi Giovannetti and the Ichabods entered the locker room leading 35-32 with Nwidadah converting an and-one in the final seconds of the half.  

Fort Hays State quickly tied the game up in the third but Washburn had an answer with baskets by Nwidadah and Giovannetti. In the final three minutes of the quarter the duo combined for eight straight points to give the Ichabods a double-digit lead for the first time at 51-40 with 1:41 to play in the third. Payton Sterk beat the buzzer on a jumper to keep the lead at ten heading to the fourth.  

The first four points in the fourth came from the visitors. The Tigers continued to cut away, with the lead at just two points at the 4:49 mark. Minutes later Giovannetti got three the old fashioned way, stretching the lead to five. The basket was matched with a 5-0 run for Fort Hays State to tie the game with 44 seconds remaining. Out of a timeout Nwidadah got a layup to fall inside and on the other end would come up with a block to secure the second ranked victory of the season for Washburn, 67-64.  

In the process of snapping a 10-game losing streak to FHSU, the Ichabods shot 38.8% (26-67) from the field while shooting just 3-11 from deep. They were efficient at the line going 12-13. On the other end the Tigers shot 37.7% (23-61) and were just 5-25 from beyond the arc.  

The rebounding battle went Washburn's way, 41-40, with each side also within one in turnovers and assists. Points in the paint were dominated by the Ichabods, 46-32. 

Yiibari Nwidadah notched her first double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 9-17 and adding a block and steal. Gabi Giovannetti was 8-17 for 22 points with three assists and three triples. Payton Sterk had six points with five assists and Britany Kogbara scored 10 off the bench.  

Talexa Weeter had 28 points and nine rebounds for Fort Hays State while Brooke Loewe had 10 points and 10 assists.  

SERIES WITH fort hays state

• Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 48-42.
• The Ichabods are 22-22 against Fort Hays State on the road. 
• The series began on Feb. 20, 1969 with a 34-21 win for FHSU in locations unknown. 
• Washburn won the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season 67-64 at home to snap a 10-game losing streak to the Tigers. 
• Washburn averages 62.88 ppg all-time against Fort Hays State. 

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 1,027-512-1 (.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 goes north to face Nebraska Kearney at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31 inside the Health & Sports Center.
• 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.