TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn wraps up the regular season Saturday afternoon inside Lee Arena for senior day beginning at 3 p.m. after the men's game. Senior day presentations will begin prior to tip-off. 
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn wraps up the regular season with one more game at home hosting Missouri Southern for the first time this season for senior day.
• The Ichabods take on the Lions at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 inside Lee Arena. Senior day presentations will take place before the game begins.
• Washburn improved to 20-7 overall and 13-5 in conference play with a 71-56 win over Pittsburg State on Wednesday night. It gave the program its first 20-win season since 2018-19.
• 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.
• Washburn was ranked No. 6 in the latest NCAA Central Region rankings released on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Eight teams from the region will advance into the NCAA Tournament.
• The Ichabods are looking to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2012-13 season.
• As a team Washburn has shooting splits of 41.6% from the floor, 32.4% from deep and 70.8% at the free throw line to score 66.3 ppg. 
• They grab 37.3 rpg with 13.4 apg to 16.3 turnovers per contest. Defensively they average 9.0 spg with 2.7 bpg.  
• On the year opponents are averaging 57.4 ppg while shooting 37.3% from the floor and 29.4% from behind the 3-point line.  
• Washburn is 11-1 on the year inside the new Lee Arena, 3-1 in neutral court games and 6-5 in road contests.  
• With a win on Wednesday night, the Ichabods passed Emporia State to move outright into 10th in all-time DII victories with 1,033. 
• Washburn knocked down five three-pointers against Pittsburg State to extend its streak with a made 3-pointer to 154 games. 
• Missouri Southern fell to 19-8 overall and 13-5 in conference play losing 73-64 to Central Missouri on the road on Wednesday.

THANK YOU SENIORS

• Before the game on Saturday our four Ichabod seniors along with student assistant Karly Neufeld will be recognized for their contributions to the program. 
• The four have combined to play 13 seasons with Washburn appearing in 356 games, 244 starts and scoring 3,675 total points. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah has played four seasons with the Ichabods logging 2,488 minutes and scoring 1,296 career points while shooting 58.0% from the field. 
• Gabi Giovannetti has spent four seasons in Topeka as well playing 2,694 total minutes. She has scored 993 points while draining 153 career 3-pointers.
• Aniah Wayne is a three-year member of the Ichabod program where she has logged 1,749 total minutes. She hass scored 575 points and made 104 3-pointers.
• Payton Sterk has spent the last two season with Washburn playing 1,806 minutes and scoring 812 points while knocking down 109 career 3-pointers.
• Karly Neufeld has spent three seasons with the Ichabods, one as a player and the last two as a student assistant coach for the program.

HOME SWEET HOME

• The 2025-26 season marks the 42nd season of play inside Lee Arena since the facility opened for the 1983-84 season.
• Eleven home victories for the Ichabods this season are the most since the 2017-18 season when they went 12-4. 
• Washburn is 476-131 all-time inside Lee Arena. 

TOURNAMENT TIME

• The MIAA Championship Tournament will take place in Kansas City, Mo. at Municipal Auditorium from March 4-8.
• Ten teams will qualify for the tournament.
• Tickets can be purchased at Lee Arena on Saturday, at the Municipal box office or via ticketmaster. 
• Games will be broadcasted on the MIAA Network and can be purchased with a $15 single-game pass or $40 for the entire tournament.
• Washburn will enter the tournament as either the second, third or fourth seed based on the KPI rankings compiled after games conclude on Saturday.
• The No. 2 seed plays at 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 5. The No. 3 seed tips off at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 6 with the No. 4 seed at 2:15 on Friday.

THE BLUE BUNCH

• Yiibari Nwidadah is second on the team scoring 11.7 ppg in just 22.5 mpg on the season. She has started in all 26 games she has played in and leads the team grabbing 7.5 rpg while also shooting a team-high 57.7% from the floor. She has scored in double figures in 16 games with six double-doubles. She is 3rd in the MIAA in offensive rebounding per game and 9th among conference players in rpg.
• Payton Sterk is leading the team scoring 12.1 ppg on 37.4% overall and 35.1% from deep. She has started every game playing 31.2 mpg, most on the team while also coming away with 1.5 spg, second most on the team. She has drilled a team-high 47 triples and has scored 14+ points in eleven games this season. The senior ranks 9th in the MIAA in 3-pointers made per game.
• Gabi Giovannetti has started all 27 games for Washburn scoring 10.9 ppg on 42.2% shooting in 28.6 mpg of action. She is shooting 35.8% from deep and is second on the team with 39 3-pointers. She also brings down 4.0 rpg and is swiping a team-high 1.7 spg. The Shawnee, Kan. native is 15th in the MIAA in 3-pointers.
• Britany Kogbara sits fourth on the team in scoring at 7.6 ppg in just 16.7 mpg of action playing in every game with one start. She is shooting 55.9% from the floor, second best on the team, while grabbing 4.1 rpg. Her ten games scoring double figures off the bench lead the team and she is 11th in the MIAA in bpg. 
• Madelyn Amekporfor has started every game playing 23.4 mpg and scoring 6.0 ppg while shooting 36.0% from the floor. She is grabbing 2.8 rpg along with swiping 1.3 spg. She has nine games with multiple steals.
• Brooke Gomez has played in every game while making 25 starts and is logging 18.6 mpg. She scores 4.6 ppg on 46.2% shooting and is dishing out a team-high 2.7 apg along with grabbing 2.7 rpg. She is 11th in the MIAA in total assists.
• Aniah Wayne has come off the bench in every game playing 20.4 mpg. She is scoring 7.0 ppg on 38.0% shooting from the floor and 36.2% from deep, best on the team. The senior also chips in 2.2 rpg and shoots 78.9% at the free throw line.
• Kellyn Hunter has played in 24 games while making two starts for the Ichabods and is logging 17.1 mpg. She scores 3.5 ppg while grabbing 2.8 rpg and making 1.0 spg. 
• Nia McKenzie has played 13.2 mpg off the bench in every game. She is scoring 1.8 ppg along with grabbing 2.7 rpg.
• Kennadi Jackson has come off the bench in 21 games playing 7.0 mpg and scoring 1.1 ppg.
• Willow Gideon has played in ten games logging 3.8 mpg. She is scoring 1.2 ppg.
• Kylin Shipman has appeared in 14 games for the Ichabods of the bench logging 7.6 mpg.
• Lauren Luebbert has come off the bench in 12 contests, playing 4.8 mpg and scoring 0.5 ppg.
• Cloie Jansky has appeared in eight games off the bench logging 2.9 mpg and scoring 1.3 ppg. 

STAT STACKING

• Holding opponents to 57.4 ppg overall Washburn is 38th nationally and first in the MIAA in scoring defense. 
• Forcing 17.96 turnovers per game the Ichabods lead the conference and are 105th nationally at creating giveaways.
• With opponents shooting 37.3% from the floor, Washburn is 3rd in the conference and 68th in the nation in field goal percentage defense.
• Outscoring opponents by 9.0 ppg, the Ichabods have the 64th best scoring margin in the nation and 3rd among MIAA teams.
• With a +4.9 rebounding margin Washburn is 4th among conference teams and 54th in the nation. 
• Shooting 41.6% from the floor, the Ichabods rank 4th in the MIAA and 79th in the nation.

ADVANCED STATS

• Washburn has a team offensive rating of 94.1 and defensive rating of 81.4 based on averages per 100 possessions. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team among qualified players in rebounding percentage at 19.3%. On the defensive end she grabs 25.2% of rebounds. 
• Britany Kogbara is second on the team grabbing 14.3% of rebounds when on the floor, second highest on the team. 
• Brooke Gomez has the highest assist percentage on the team at 28.2% of assists while on the floor. 
• Kellyn Hunter has the second highest mark at 20.4%. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah has the highest true shooting percentage on the team at 60.1% when adding in free throw percentage and 3-pointers. 
• Britany Kogbara is second on the team at 56.7%. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 296 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is 3rd in program history at creating extra opportunities. In overall rebounding she is 3rd with 817 career boards. 
• Her career field goal percentage of .580 is the 2nd best in program history. In scoring she ranks 13th among all Ichabods with 1,296 career points. 
• Nwidadah is also tied for 10th in program history with 71 career blocked shots. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is 6th in program history with 153 career 3-pointers made. She is tied for 14th among all Ichabods with 63 blocked shots. 
• She ranks 27th in program history with 993 career points. 
• Payton Sterk currently sits tied for 16th in program history with 109 3-pointers made in just 58 career games with Washburn. Her career percentage from deep of 36.7% is the 13th best in program history.
• Sterk's career free throw percentage of 85.8% is the best for any Ichabod. 
• With 59 career blocked shots Madelyn Amekporfor is tied for 18th in program history at coming away with rejections. 
• Aniah Wayne has made 104 3-pointers in her Ichabod career putting her 18th 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 62-53 record with Washburn and is 139-131 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, Pittsburg State 56 (February 25, 2026)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn used a big second half to win its fifth game in a row and 20th of the season defeating Pittsburg State 71-56 at home on Wednesday night. The Ichabods play one more in the regular season taking on Missouri Southern on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Lee Arena.  

Both sides traded baskets early on with five ties in the first quarter alone. A 5-0 run by the Gorillas (18-9, 11-7 MIAA) created some separation. Both teams shot under 35.0% in the first quarter but going 8-9 at the free throw line put Pittsburg State in front 17-12 after one.  

Washburn (20-7, 13-5 MIAA) fell behind by as many as eight early in the second quarter. A 6-0 run kept it close after Payton Sterk got a layup to go at the 7:29 mark. The Gorillas got hot from deep in the quarter, shooting 6-7 from three-point range, with three coming inside the final four minutes to lead 35-29 at the break.  

The first eight points of the second half came from the Ichabods, including the first six for Brooke Gomez, as they went in front. Pittsburg State knocked down a jumper with 6:11 remaining in the quarter which would be the only points they scored in the 10-minute period. Washburn's offense continued to churn, finishing the quarter shooting 52.6% and on a 14-0 run to lead 51-37.  

The Gorilla offense picked up its pace to start the fourth, cutting the lead down to seven points at the 5:32 mark. A 3-pointer by Aniah Wayne pushed the lead back into double-figures and started a 6-0 run for the Ichabods. The lead never dipped below 10 points after that, with free throws putting the game away down the stretch to give Washburn 20 wins for the first time since the 2018-19 season.  

Washburn finished the game shooting 42.2% for the game while going 5-20 from deep. They out-rebounded the Gorillas 45-26 including grabbing 16 offensive boards. That led to a 38-14 advantage in paint scoring along with 16-9 in second chance points.  

Four players finished in double figures in a balanced scoring effort. Aniah Wayne topped the chart with 11 points on 3-4 shooting all from downtown. Gabi Giovannetti had 10 along with seven rebounds, Britany Kogbara had 10 with two blocks and Brooke Gomez added 10 as well.  

Clara Swearingen led Pittsburg State scoring 11 points, two others had ten.  

ABOUT THE MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS

• Missouri Southern fell to 19-8 overall and 13-5 inside the MIAA after falling 73-64 to Central Missouri last time out in Warrensburg, Mo. on Wednesday.
• The Lions are 9-2 playing at home in Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium, 8-5 on the road and 2-1 in neutral court games.
• Last season Missouri Southern went 19-14 overall and 10-9 inside the MIAA. They advanced to the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals before falling to Pittsburg State.
• On the year the Lions average 74.5 ppg with shooting splits of 40.5% from the floor, 30.4% from deep and 72.1% at the line. They also grab 40.7 rpg with 11.7 apg. Opponents are scoring 67.4 ppg on 40.7% shooting. 
• Missouri Southern is tops in the conference with a +3.3 turnover margin, they rank 50th in the nation. They are also first in the conference in offensive rebounds per game and free throws made and attempted.
• Grace Frazier leads the team in scoring at 16.4 ppg while playing and starting in 26 games logging 31.5 mpg. She shoots 41.6% from the floor while dishing out a team-high 3.3 apg and swipes 1.5 spg. She is 4th in the MIAA in pgg, and is 6th in apg.
• Ashlyn Alloway has started all 27 games logging 31.5 mpg while scoring 13.7 ppg on 43.4% shooting from the floor. She is grabbing a team-high 8.5 rpg while adding 1.1 spg. She is 2nd in the MIAA with eight double-doubles and is 4th in rpg. 
• Nariah Clay is scoring 13.5 ppg while shooting 37.3% overall and 35.6% from deep with a team-high 52 3-pointers. She has started all 27 games and adds 4.3 rpg with 1.3 spg. She is 6th in the MIAA in 3-pointers. 
• Makenna Yokley has played in all 27 games logging 21.4 mpg. She is scoring 8.4 ppg while grabbing 5.7 rpg.
• Lilly Thomas has played in all 27 games off the bench at 18.2 mpg. She chips in 7.9 ppg on a team-high 46.3% shooting while grabbing 4.2 rpg.

HEAD COACH RONNIE RESSEL

• Is in his 10th season as the head coach at Missouri Southern where he has a 167-127 record. 
• Served three years as an assistant and one year as an interim head coach before becoming the head coach.
• At Rend Lake College, Ressel produced a record of 118-92 and was named Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1996. A year later, Ressel led Rend Lake to a GRAC co-championship.
• A two-year letterman at Missouri Southern, he averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

LAST TIME VERSUS MISSOURI SOUTHERN

Washburn 70, Missouri Southern 66 (March 1, 2025)
JOPLIN, Mo. -- Washburn finished out its regular season with a come-from-behind win Saturday afternoon, knocking off Missouri Southern 70-66 on the road. The Ichabods MIAA Tournament seeding will be announced later on Saturday night.  

It was a back-and-forth affair early on with four ties in the first quarter. Washburn (17-12, 11-8 MIAA) went fron down by three to up by three with a 6-0 run started by a Yiibari Nwidadah shot inside. They led by five with 1:27 to play in the quarter after Aniah Wayne connected on a triple. The Lions (18-13, 10-9 MIAA) tied things up in the next minute but the Ichabods still led 21-19 after one with Nwidadah scoring in the final seconds.  

The second quarter began much like the first with both teams trading scores. A free throw by Gabi Giovannetti tied the game up at 29 with 3:52 to go before the half. The next nine points would all come from the Lions as they shot 61.5% in the quarter. The run came to an end as Giovannetti ended the half with a 3-pointer to make it 38-32 going into the break.  

Washburn began chipping away at the lead early in the third, pulling within two at the 6:46 mark after another layup by Nwidadah. The next six points went to Missouri Southern to go back in front by eight. The Ichabods kept it there and after a triple by Aniah Wayne cut it to three with 2:19 in the quarter neither team scored the rest of the frame making it 52-49 heading into the fourth.  

Twice early in the fourth quarter Washburn brought the lead down to just one. Finally, they pushed through and took the lead on a layup by Madelyn Amekporfor with 7:32 to play. A few minutes later she followed with a triple that began a 5-0 run to put the Ichabods up 63-58 with 4:30 to play.  

They held back the Lions, going up by five with 40 second to go after Payton Sterk sunk a pair of free throws. On the other end Missouri Southern got free throws to go and force a turnover, resulting in two more from the charity stripe, pulling within two. Sterk put Washburn back up by two and the Ichabods were able to force a turnover on the next possession. Giovannetti put the game away at the line for a 70-66 win.  

The Ichabods ended the game shooting 44.1% (26-59) and 5-13 from deep. The Lions were efficient, shooting 26-53 (49.1%) overall but hit just three of 11 3-point attempts. A 37-27 rebounding advantage boosted Washburn, with 15 coming on the offensive end.  

Yiibari Nwidadah secured a double-double finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Madelyn Amekporfor and Gabi Giovannetti each scored 15 with Giovannetti also grabbing seven rebounds.  

Ryan Franklin led Missouri Southern with a game-high 29 points on 14-18 shooting and Grace Frazier had 15 for the Lions.  

SERIES WITH MISSOURI SOUTHERN

• Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 54-37.
• The Ichabods are 30-14 against Missouri Southern in Topeka. 
• The series began on Feb. 2, 1970 with a 30-19 win for Washburn in an unknown location.
• The last meeting came on March 1, 2025 with a 70-66 win for Washburn in Joplin,Mo. on March 1. 
• Washburn averages 65.95 ppg all-time against the Lions.

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 1,033-514-1 (.668) 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

• 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.