TOPEKA, Kan. -- With exhibition season in the rear view mirror, Washburn women's basketball begins the 2026-27 season at the Central Region Crossover in Marshall, Minn. where they will face St. Cloud State at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13 before taking on the host Southwest Minnesota State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
 

OPENING TIP

>> The 58th season of Washburn women's basketball begins with a pair of games against NSIC opponents at the Central Region Crossover.

>> The Ichabods will face St. Cloud State on Friday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. to open the season before facing the host Southwest Minnesota State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

>> Washburn opened the 2026-27 season with a 68-50 exhibition loss on the road against Kansas on Oct. 29. 

>> Last season the Ichabods went 24-8 on the year including a 14-5 record in MIAA play, good for 3rd in the conference regular season standings. They won the MIAA Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 18th time in program history.

>> The Ichabods were picked to finish 5th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and 4th in the media ballot, they received one first-place vote in each poll.

>> The Huskies will also open the 2026-27 season on Friday after they posted a 14-15 record a season ago. 

>> The Mustangs enter the weekend with a 1-0 record after opening the 2026-27 season early with a 87-42 win over Bethany Lutheran on Monday, Nov. 9 in Marshall, Minn.

FOLLOW ALONG + CENTRAL REGION CROSSOVER

>> Both games will be broadcast on Midco Sports Plus by Southwest Minnesota State via midcosportsplus.com.

>> Live stats will be accessible through the women's basketball schedule page on wusports.com.

>> You can also listen to the game on the Ichabod Sports Network free on the Varsity Network app.

>> The tournament consists of Washburn and Northwest Missouri from the MIAA and St. Cloud State and Southwest Minnesota State from the NSIC.

>> All games over the weekend will be played inside the R/A Facility.

LET'S GET IT STARTED

>> Washburn is 41-16 all-time in season openers after falling 73-61 to St. Cloud State last season.

>> The Ichabods' most recent season-opening victory came in the 2022-23 season at home against the Bulldogs with a 71-55 win.

BODS AND BITS

>> Washburn returns four letterwinners from last season's roster while adding nine new faces in the form of five transfers and four incoming freshmen.

>> The balanced Ichabod roster consists of three seniors, five juniors, one sophomore and the four true freshmen.

>> As a team in 2025-26 Washburn had shooting splits of 40.7% from the floor, 31.3% from deep and 72.4% at the free throw line to score 65.9 ppg. 

>> They grab 37.9 rpg with 12.9 apg to 16.1 turnovers per contest. Defensively they averaged 9.0 spg with 2.8 bpg.  

>> For the year opponents averaged 57.3 ppg while shooting 37.2% from the floor and 28.7% from behind the 3-point line.  

>> Washburn went 12-1 last season at home inside the new Lee Arena while posting a 6-5 record on the road and a 6-2 mark in neutral court games.

>> The Ichabods knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the final game of last season to extend its streak with a made 3-pointer to 159 games since the streak began on January 16, 2021.

BACK IN BLUE

>> Madelyn Amekporfor returns for her senior season with the Ichabods after playing in all 32 games and starting in 31 logging 23.4 mpg. She averaged 6.2 ppg while shooting 36.3% from the floor and shot 25.4% from deep with 15 3-pointers on the year. She averaged 3.1 rpg and tied for a team-high with 1.4 spg while chipping in 1.6 apg. The Andover, Kan. native scored in double figures in eight games and had 11 games with multiple steals.

>> Britany Kogbara is back for her senior season and second with Washburn after playing in all 32 games last season and making one start while logging 16.8 mpg. She averaged 7.0 ppg on 53.8% shooting from the floor, second best on the team. The Peoria, Ariz. native also grabbed 4.1 rpg and made a team-high 0.8 bpg. She scored in double figures in 12 games and had seven contests with multiple blocks. She finished the year 12th in the MIAA in total blocks and blocks per game.

>> Brooke Gomez will be a junior for the Ichabods in 2026-27 after playing in all 32 games a season ago and starting in 30 while logging 18.9 mpg. The point guard averaged 4.3 ppg on 41.7% shooting overall and 29.0% from beyond the arc with nine makes on the season. The Northglenn, Colo. native led the team with 2.6 apg while also grabbing 2.6 rpg. She scored 10+ points in four games and reached the 20-point mark in one contest while recording five games with five or more assists. She ranked 10th in the MIAA in total assists.

>> Lauren Luebbert is also back for her junior season with Washburn in 2026-27. As a sophomore she appeared in 12 games off the bench logging 58 total minutes. She scored six points while grabbing seven rebounds and swiping five steals. 

FRESH FACES

>> Nine new Ichabods will join the roster for the 2026-27 campaign, five transfers and four true freshmen. 

>> Ta'Leeyah Glynn is a senior guard from Lubbock, Texas. She joins the Ichabods after spending last season at Midwestern State where she led the team with 698 minutes across 26 games with 22 starts. She averaged 9.2 ppg with 2.2 rpg and drained a team-high 28 3-pointers while adding 49 steals.

>> Olivia Wren joins the Ichabods as a junior after spending two seasons at Kirkwood Community College. The Minneapolis, Minn. native played in 69 games across the two seasons averaging 9.0 ppg on 37.4% shooting with 111 3-pointers. She also added 1.8 spg and 2.7 apg. The guard earned First-Team All-Region honors as a sophomore and was named a Second-Team All-American.

>> Ellie Buscher joins the Ichabod forward group as a junior after spending two seasons at State Fair CC. She averaged 13.3 ppg on 50.0% shooting with 11.6 rpg and 2.9 apg as a sophomore. She was named the Region 16 Defensive Player of the Year and was a First-Team NJCAA All-American. 

>> Addy Engel rounds out the group of upperclass transfers joining the Ichabods as a junior coming from Illinois Central College where she spent two seasons. As a sophomore she averaged 13.4 ppg on 57% shooting along with 4.5 rpg and 1.9 spg. She earned First-Team All-Mid-West Conference and First-Team All-Region 24 both seasons.

>> Sarah Gatwech rounds out the group of Ichabod transfers joining the guard rotation as a sophomore. She spent her freshman season at East Texas A&M where she played in seven games logging 11.1 mpg scoring 37 points on 50.0% shooting. 

>> Macey Willmann will begin her collegiate career at Washburn working into the guard room. She comes to the Ichabods from Kansas City, Mo. and North Kansas City HS.

>> Austin Duncan comes to the Ichabods from Denver, Colo. and Kent Denver HS. She will join the forward rotation for the Ichabods. 

>> Audrey Plunkett begins her college career at Washburn where she will join the group of forwards. She comes to Topeka by way of Midwest City, Okla. and Carl Albert HS. 

>> Avery McCorry rounds out the freshman group coming to the Ichabods from Wichita, Kan. and Bishop Carroll HS. She will join the guard rotation after finishing her season with Washburn soccer. 

STAT STACKING

>> Holding opponents to 57.3 ppg, Washburn ranked 33rd nationally and first in the MIAA in scoring defense last season.

>> Forcing 17.66 turnovers per game the Ichabods led the conference and finished 110th nationally at creating giveaways.

>> With opponents shooting 37.2% from the floor, Washburn ranked 3rd in the conference and 66th in the nation in field goal percentage defense.

>> After outscoring opponents by 8.6 ppg, the Ichabods had the 61st best scoring margin in the nation and 3rd among MIAA teams.

>> With a +4.8 rebounding margin Washburn ranked 4th among conference teams and 53rd in the nation. 

>> Holding opponents to 28.7% shooting from behind the arc the Ichabods ranked 3rd in the conference and 98th in the nation.

>> With a team field goal percentage of 40.7% Washburn ranked 5th in the MIAA and 109th nationally.

>> The Ichabod bench is scored 20.2 ppg a season ago, 7th in the MIAA and 105th in the nation.

ADVANCED STATS

>> Washburn had a team offensive rating of 93.7 and defensive rating of 81.4 based on per 100 possession averages.

>> Brooke Gomez has the highest assist percentage on the team at 26.8% of assists while on the floor. 

>> Britany Kogbara was second on the team grabbing 13.8% of rebounds when on the floor last season. On the defensive end of the floor she grabbed 17.1% of rebounds.

>> Kogbara's true shooting percentage of 54.9% was second best on the team. Her 22.5% usage rate is the highest among returners.

>> Madelyn Amekporfor had an assist percentage rate of 13.7% and a 7.5% rebounding percentage.

MILESTONE MARKERS

>> With 64 career blocked shots Madelyn Amekporfor is 15th in program history at coming away with rejections. 

>> She ranks 23rd in program history with 73 career starts and is 34th on the career steals leaderboard.

>> Brooke Gomez is 20th in Ichabod history with a career average of 2.6 assists per game.

>> She is 39th in program history with 165 career assists and is tied for 42nd with 60 career starts.

>> Britany Kogbara is tied for 44th in Washburn history with 27 career blocks.

HEAD COACH LORA WESTLING

>> Lora Westling is in her fifth season as head coach at her alma mater for the 2026-27 season. She has a 66-54 record with Washburn and is 143-132 mark  at the DII level. 

>> She has coached eight All-MIAA selections and three MIAA All-Defensive team members with the Ichabods.

>> 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.

>> 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

>> The Washburn coaching staff is rounded out by assistant coaches Katie Dalton and Robin Stahl.

>> Dalton is in her third season on the Washburn sidelines in 2026-27. 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 is in her second season on the Ichabod staff in 2026-27 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. 

LAST TIME OUT

Kansas 68, Washburn 50 (October 29, 2026)
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Washburn trailed by just five points at halftime on Thursday night against Kansas before falling 68-50 in an exhibition serving as the team's first taste of action on the court in the 2026-27 season. The Ichabods will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 13 facing St. Cloud State at the Central Region Crossover in Marshall, Minn. 

Both teams opened the game slow out of the gates offensively. Late in the first quarter Sarah Gatwech got a driving layup to go that cut the lead down to two points at 8-6. A 3-pointer from Olivia Wren in the final minute of the opening quarter made it just a three-point lead for the Jayhawks heading into the second quarter. 

After Gatwech began the second quarter with a layup to pull within one the next 12 points all came from Kansas as they pulled ahead 26-13 at the 4:03 mark in the second quarter. A steal from Gatwech resulted in a fast break layup by Madelyn Amekporfor which sparked a 7-0 Washburn run, cutting the lead down to six points after Ta'Leeyah Glynn knocked down a corner triple. After free throws from Wren in the final seconds before halftime the Ichabods trailed 31-26 heading into the locker room. 

Out of the break Macey Willman got a runner to fall that cut the lead down to four at the 7:54 mark before the Jayhawks launched a 17-3 run over the next six minutes that pushed the lead up to 20 points inside the final minute of the quarter. The Ichabods trailed 52-33 heading into the fourth. 

Kansas opened the final frame expanding the lead to a game-high 25 points in the opening minutes. Washburn went on an 11-0 run over a four-minute stretch that brought the lead down to 14 points after Britany Kogbara got a layup to go inside. The Ichabods outscored the Jayhawks in the quarter, 17-16, but fell 68-50 in the final preseason tune-up.  

Washburn finished the game shooting 19-58 (32.8%) overall and 2-21 (9.5%) from deep. On the other side of the court they held Kansas to 21-54 (38.9%) shooting and 5-20 (25.0%) from beyond the arc. 

Rebounding went 45-33 in favor of the home squad, with a 15-9 advantage on the offensive boards. It contributed to a 33-14 free-throw advantage as well. Both squads forced the other team into turnovers with the Ichabods turning the ball over 27 times while forcing Kansas into 25 turnovers.  

Ten players scored for Washburn led by 10 points off the bench from Sarah Gatwech who added two steals and two blocks defensively. Olivia Wren had nine points and swiped three steals while Ta'Leeyah Glynn and Macey Willmann each chipped in seven points.  

ABOUT THE ST. CLOUD STATE HUSKIES

>> St. Cloud State is coming off a 14-15 season in 2025-26 where they went 10-12 in NSIC play, falling in the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament.

>> They were picked to finish 4th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll.

>> The Huskies went 8-5 at home inside Halenbeck Hall a season ago while posting a 4-9 mark on the road and going 2-1 in neutral site games.

>> They faced South Dakota State in an exhibition game on Oct. 28 where they fell 91-62 in Brookings, S.D.

>> Last season St. Cloud State averaged 71.8 ppg with shooting splits of 42.1% from the floor, 33.7% from deep and 76.5% at the line. They also grabbed 39.0 rpg with 17.8 apg. Opponents scored 69.4 ppg on 43.3% shooting.  

>> Last season the Huskies ranked 5th in the nation and 1st in the NSIC in assists per game. They were 50th nationally and 2nd in the conference in bench scoring while ranking 32nd in the nation in free throw percentage.

>> The Huskies return nine players from a season ago including All-NSIC Second-Team selection Alana Zarneke. 

>> Last season Alana Zarneke finished second on the team in scoring at 11.7 ppg on 39.2% shooting overall and 31.5% from deep with 40 made triples on the year. She started and played in all 29 games, logging 26.6 mpg and also added 3.9 rpg with 2.4 apg and 1.2 spg. 

>> Abigail O'reilly also returns for St. Cloud State after playing in all 29 games and making six starts a season ago. She was third on the team scoring 9.4 ppg on 49.0% shooting, a team-best. She also grabbed 5.1 rpg with 2.5 coming on the offensive end. She was 12th in the NSIC in free throw attempts last season. 

>> Paige Lambe returns to the post after playing and starting in all 29 games this season. She averaged 7.1 ppg on 48.1% shooting in just 16.3 mpg last season. She added 2.9 rpg along with 0.8 bpg, a team-high. 

>> Reagan Briggs played in 24 games and started in 20 a season ago logging 22.6 mpg. She averaged 6.2 ppg on 39.4% shooting with 18 made 3-pointers on 37.5% from deep. 

>> St. Cloud State adds eight players to the 2026-27 roster with five incoming freshmen and three transfers to round out the roster.

HUSKIES COACHING STAFF

>> Head coach Lori Fish is in her 19th season as the head coach at St. Cloud State where she has compiled a 291-202 record.

>> Fish has guided her teams to four 20-win seasons, two Division Championships, three Conference Championships and four Conference Tournament Finals.

>> Following five years as Dr. Lori Ulfert's top assistant at St. Cloud State, Fish was hired as the head coach at Minnesota State-Mankato in 2004. She went 62-53 (.539) over four years in Mankato.

>> Fish spent her playing career at South Dakota State where she appeared in 112 games over her four-year playing career with the Jackrabbits and averaged 10.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

>> A St. Cloud native, Fish attended St. Cloud Tech High School and was inducted into the St. Cloud Tech Hall of Fame in 2004.

>> Assistant coaches Jessica Hartmann and Danielle Mancosky round out the coaching staff.

SERIES WITH ST. CLOUD STATE

>> Washburn trails in the all-time series between the two teams 1-2.

>> The Ichabods are 0-1 against St. Cloud State in neutral site games. 

>> The series began on Nov. 24, 2017 with a 58-55 win for Washburn at home in Lee Arena. 

>> Last season the Huskies won the most recent meeting, defeating the Ichabods 73-61 in the season-opener on Nov. 14.  

>> Washburn averages 56.7 ppg all-time against St. Cloud State. 

ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE MUSTANGS

>> Southwest Minnesota State is 1-0 on the year after beginning the season with an 87-42 win over Bethany Lutheran on Nov. 9.

>> Last season the Mustangs finished 17-12 overall and 14-8 inside the NSIC, falling in the second round of the NSIC Tournament.

>> They were picked to finish 6th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll.

>> SWMSU went 10-3 inside the R/A Facility last season, 6-6 on the road and 1-3 in neutral court games. They are 1-0 at home to begin the season.

>> Last season Southwest Minnesota State averaged 72.4 ppg with shooting splits of 44.2% from the floor, 34.8% from deep and 80.2% at the line. They also grab 37.2 rpg with 13.7 apg. Opponents scored 69.4 ppg on 42.9% shooting.  

>> In 2025-26 the Mustangs finished 1st in the NSIC and 4th nationally shooting 80.2% at the line. They were also efficient from the field, finishing 20th in the nation and 4th in the NSIC in field goal percentage. 

>> Southwest Minnesota State returns nine players from a season ago including three of its top-four scorers from a season ago including All-NSIC Second-Team selection Natalie Nielsen.

>> Natalie Nielsen played and started in 23 contests, logging 25.1 mpg. She averaged 13.2 ppg on a team-best 54.5% shooting and also grabbed 8.7 rpg, a team-high. She also chipped in 1.0 spg and 0.9 bpg. She was 2nd in the NSIC and 4th in the nation shooting 90.6% at the line a season ago. She was also 1st in the NSIC in offensive rebounds per game and 2nd in rpg.

>> Nicole Maenke also returns after playing and starting in all 29 games a season ago playing 32.2 mpg. She was second on the team scoring 14.2 ppg on 43.8% shooting from the field and hitting a team-high 63 3-pointers at a 35.2% clip. She also averaged 2.6 apg and 3.0 rpg. She was 3rd in the nation and led the NSIC shooting 90.8% at the charity stripe, 5th in the conference in three-point percentage and 17th in ppg.

>> Kylan Gerads is also back after scoring 13.2 ppg last season on 44.7% shooting along with 38 3-pointers shot at a 35.2% clip. She started and played in all 29 games while adding 6.1 rpg and 0.9 spg. She finished 19th in the NSIC in ppg.

>> Brynn Busse played in all 29 contests while making three starts and logging 20.6 mpg a season ago. She chipped in 4.8 ppg on 38.7% shooting and dished out 2.0 apg. 

>> The 2026-27 roster features five new players, three true freshmen and a pair of transfers.

MUSTANG COACHING STAFF

>> Tom Webb is in his 11th season at the helm of the Southwest Minnesota State program where he has a 142-131 record.

>> Webb came to SMSU after spending eight seasons (2008-16) as the head coach at Division II Cameron University. He compiled a 91-123 record during his eight-year tenure with one appearance in the NCAA tournament.

>> He earned his first head coaching position at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo., in 2000. He spent four seasons (2000-04) as head coach, leading the Trappers to a 94-32 overall record.

>> Webb began his coaching career as a student assistant women's basketball coach at SMSU in 1998-99, before serving as a graduate assistant for the Northern State University men's basketball program in 1999-2000.

>> Webb earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education from SMSU in 1998 and earned his master's degree in health and physical education from Northern State in 1999.

>> Assistant coaches Hanna Geistfeld, Olivia Argall and Troy Bouman round out the coaching staff.

SERIES WITH SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

>> Washburn has a 2-1 lead in the all-time series against Southwest Minnesota State. 

>> The Ichabods are 1-0 playing against the Mustangs on the road. 

>> The series began on Dec. 19, 2004 with a 70-49 win for Washburn in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

>> The last meeting between the two teams came on Nov. 15, 2025 last season which the Ichabods won 63-59 in Edmond, Okla. 

>> Washburn averages 68.3 ppg all-time when playing against Southwest Minnesota State.

WASHBURN HISTORY

>> Washburn women's basketball is 1,037-515-1 (.668) all-time and are in the 58th 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 18 NCAA Tournament appearances and is 26-17 all-time in those postseason games. 

>> The program has won 19 total MIAA Championships, earning nine regular season conference titles and winning ten 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 2026-27 home-opener for the Ichabods comes the following weekend at the Washburn Classic when they play host to Delta State on Friday, Nov. 20 with a 7 p.m. tip-off. 

>> Conference play begins on the road for Washburn when they travel to Maryville, Mo. to face Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m.

>> Senior day for the Ichabods comes on the final game of the regular season when they host Pittsburg State on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.

>> The MIAA Tournament will once again take place in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. running from March 2-7.