TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn women's basketball is back after a week off and will face Central Missouri for the second time this season on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo. at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletic Center.
 

OPENING TIP

• Washburn wraps up its three-game road trip facing off with Central Missouri for the second time this season.
• The Ichabods take on the Jennies on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg, Mo. 
• 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 40.5% from the floor, 30.8% from deep and 71.3% at the free throw line to score 64.5 ppg. 
• They grab 37.5 rpg with 13.1 apg to 16.6 turnovers per contest. Defensively they average 9.2 spg with 2.6 bpg.  
• On the year opponents are averaging 56.5 ppg while shooting 36.6% from the floor and 27.6% 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 4-4 in road contests.  
• Washburn knocked down five 3-pointers on Saturday against Nebraska Kearney, extending its streak with a made 3-pointer to 148 games. 
• Central Missouri won a fourth straight game with a 81-69 win over No. 5 Fort Hays State on hte road on Saturday, improving to 16-5 overall and 10-2 in the MIAA.

THE BLUE BUNCH

• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team scoring 12.5 ppg in just 23.3 mpg on the season. She has started in all 20 games she has played in and leads the team grabbing 7.7 rpg while also shooting 56.3% from the floor, second best on the team. She has scored in double figures in 13 games with five double-doubles. She is 2nd in the MIAA in offensive rebounding per game and 10th among conference players in rpg.
• Payton Sterk is second on the team in scoring at 11.5 ppg on 35.7% overall and 32.4% 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 33 triples and has scored 14+ points in nine games this season. The senior ranks 11th in the MIAA in 3-pointers.
• Gabi Giovannetti has started all 21 games for Washburn scoring 10.6 ppg on 42.9% shooting in 28.2 mpg of action. She is shooting a team-high 39.7% from deep and is second on the team with 31 3-pointers. She also brings down 4.0 rpg and is making 1.8 spg, most on the team. The Shawnee, Kan. native is 5th in the MIAA in steals and 13th in 3-pointers. 
• Britany Kogbara sits fourth on the team in scoring at 7.7 ppg in just 16.5 mpg of action playing in every game with one start. She is shooting a team-high 56.9% from the floor while grabbing 3.8 rpg. Her seven games scoring double figures off the bench lead the team and she is 12th in the MIAA in bpg. 
• Madelyn Amekporfor has started every game playing 23.3 mpg and scoring 6.3 ppg while shooting 37.7% from the floor. She is grabbing 3.0 rpg along with swiping 1.0 spg.
• Brooke Gomez has played in every game while making 19 starts and is logging 18.1 mpg. She scores 3.3 ppg on 36.6% shooting and is dishing out a team-high 2.8 apg along with grabbing 2.5 rpg. She ranks 11th in the MIAA in assists per game.
• Aniah Wayne has come off the bench in every game playing 20.5 mpg. She is scoring 6.5 ppg on 36.1% shooting from the floor and 31.3% from deep. The senior also chips in 2.3 rpg and 0.8 spg.
• Kellyn Hunter has played in 18 games while making two starts for the Ichabods and is logging 18.1 mpg. She scores 3.1 ppg while grabbing 2.8 rpg and making 1.2 spg. 
• Nia McKenzie has played 13.5 mpg off the bench in every game. She is scoring 1.9 ppg along with grabbing 2.9 rpg.
• Kennadi Jackson has come off the bench in 17 games playing 5.5 mpg and scoring 1.1 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 76th in the nation at protecting the three-point line holding opponents to a 27.6% clip from beyond the arc, 3rd best in the MIAA. 
• Holding opponents to 56.5 ppg overall the Ichabods are 32nd nationally and first in the MIAA in scoring defense. 
• With opponents shooting 36.6% from the floor, Washburn is 3rd in the conference and 53rd in the nation in field goal percentage defense.
• Forcing 18.38 turnovers per game the Ichabods lead the conference and are 100th nationally  and second in the MIAA at creating giveaways. 
• With a +3.9 rebounding margin Washburn is 6th among conference teams and 68th in the nation. 
• Outscoring opponents by 8.0 ppg, the Ichabods have the 75th best scoring margin in the nation and 6th among MIAA teams.

ADVANCED STATS

• Washburn has a team offensive rating of 90.9 and defensive rating of 79.6 based on averages per 100 possessions. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah leads the team among qualified players in rebounding percentage at 19.0%. 
• Britany Kogbara is second on the team grabbing 13.2% of rebounds when on the floor, second highest on the team. 
• Brooke Gomez has the highest assist percentage on the team at 30.1% of assists while on the floor. 
• Kellyn Hunter has the second highest mark at 21.0%. 
• Yiibari Nwidadah has the highest true shooting percentage on the team at 59.7% when adding in free throw percentage and 3-pointers. 
• Britany Kogbara is second on the team at 58.0%. 

MILESTONE MARKERS

• With 286 career offensive rebounds Yiibari Nwidadah is 3rd in program history at creating extra opportunities. In overall rebounding she is 5th with 777 career boards. 
• Her career field goal percentage of .577 is the 2nd best in program history. In scoring she ranks 13th among all Ichabods with 1,242 career points. 
• Nwidadah is also 11th in program history with 69 career blocked shots. 
• Gabi Giovannetti is 7th in program history with 143 career 3-pointers made. She is tied for 18th  among all Ichabods with 57 blocked shots. 
• Payton Sterk currently sits 17th in program history with 95 3-pointers made in just 52 career games with Washburn. Her career percentage from deep of 35.8% is 15th in program history.
• Sterk's career free throw percentage of 86.3% is the best for any Ichabod. 
• With 57 career blocked shots Madelyn Amekporfor is tied for 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 57-52 record with Washburn and is 134-130 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 76, Nebraska Kearney 65 (January 31, 2026)
KEARNEY, Neb. -- Washburn bounced back from a late loss two nights prior and pulled away late to defeat Nebraska Kearney 76-65 on the road Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods have a week off before facing off with Central Missouri in Warrensburg next Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m.  

It was a quick start offensively for Washburn (15-6, 8-4 MIAA) as they led 8-3 after a basket by Gabi Giovannetti at the 7:18 mark in the first. The Lopers (11-12, 4-8 MIAA) tied it up by the Ichabod offense shot 50.0% in the opening frame to build an 18-14 lead.  

The first of three triples for Madelyn Amekporfor pushed the lead to seven to open the scoring in the second. Nebraska Kearney chipped away before tying the game up at 28. They scored five in a row to go in front 37-35. Washburn and Brooke Gomez scored the final three points of the half, with Gomez knocking down a shot as the game went to halftime leading 38-37. 

Both sides traded baskets for much of the third quarter while the Ichabods remained in front the whole way. They created separation with the final four points coming from Gomez and Britany Kogbara to lead 57-52 heading into the fourth.  

The Lopers made a run early in the fourth, tying the game at 59 with a 3-pointer at the 7:28 mark. Washburn re-gained the lead but it was cut back down to one. The Ichabods responded with an 8-0 run to lead by nine after Kellyn Hunter scored a driving layup with 2:16 left. Payton Sterk put the game away with four free throws in the final minute to finish off the 76-65 win.  

Washburn shot a season-high 52.1% from the field along with an efficient 5-12 from three-point range and 21-24 at the line. They held the Lopers to 37.1% shooting while the home squad did shoot 41.7% from deep with 10 makes.  

The rebounding battle was won by the Ichabods 34-29, helping to generate a 34-22 advantage in paint scoring. Nebraska Kearney turned the ball over four less times but Washburn scored seven more points off giveaways.  

Madelyn Amekporfor led a balanced effort scoring with 13 points along with four rebounds. Britany Kogbara had 12 on 4-5 shooting with four blocks while Aniah Wayne scored 11. Four other players had at least eight points in the game.  

Myleigh Weers led the Lopers with 22 points while adding three assists.  

ABOUT THE CENTRAL MISSOURI JENNIES

• Central Missouri enters the game with a 16-5 record overall and 10-2 in the MIAA after winning 81-69 over No. 5 Fort Hays State last time out on Jan. 31 for a fourth straight win.
• The Jennies have gone 7-2 inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center, 8-2 on the road and 1-1 in neutral court meetings.
• They are receiving votes in the latest WBCA poll.
• Last season Central Missouri went 17-15 overall and 8-11 in conference play. They fell in the semifinal round of the MIAA Tournament. 
• So far on the year the Jennies average 71.7 ppg with shooting splits of 43.4% from the floor, 32.5% from deep and 73.7% at the line. They also grab 40.2 rpg with 15.5 apg. Opponents are scoring 60.3 ppg on 38.2% shooting. 
• Central Missouri is 1st in the MIAA and 20th nationally with a +8.9 rebounding margin. 2nd in the conference in both FG% and apg, ranking top-40 in the nation in both.
• Reese Schaaf is scoring a team-high 19.2 ppg on a team-high 57.3% from the field and 46.8% from deep with 29 3-pointers, also a team-high. She plays 32.5 mpg while grabbing a team-best 8.9 rpg with 2.9 apg and 1.9 spg, both also team-highs. She is 1st in the conference and 16th nationally in fgp, 2nd in the MIAA in ppg and rpg as well.
• Taylor Weishaar is second on the team scoring 15.1 ppg on 41.9% shooting. She has started all 21 games and is grabbing 8.1 rpg while swatting away a team-high 1.6 bpg. She is 3rd in the MIAA in bpg, 5th in rpg and 7th in ppg.
• Neely Schaaf has started in all 21 games playing 27.8 mpg. She scores 8.3 ppg on 39.1% shooting overall. She chips in 4.2 rpg and 2.7 apg. 
• Hayden Heim has played in all 21 games making 15 starts and is scoring 7.0 ppg on 43.9% shooting. She is grabbing 4.6 rpg with 1.0 bpg in 26.8 mpg.
• Makenzie Farmer has made 18 starts and played in all 21 games logging 22.5 mpg. She chips in 6.7 ppg while giving out 2.3 apg.

HEAD COACH DAVE SLIFER

• Is in his 22nd season as the head coach at Central Missouri where he has a 454-199 record. 
• Is in his 37th season as a head coach with a 838-298 career record. Among active head coaches, Slifer is the second winningest active head coach in Division II and ranks in the top-five among all three divisions
• Prior to UCM, Slifer was Missouri Western's mentor, where he posted a record of 206-69. The winningest coach in Missouri Western women's basketball history.
• Before his stint at Missouri Western, Slifer served six seasons at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• Slifer received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Mount Mercy in 1982, and a master's degree in business administration from Eastern Illinois in 1985. 

LAST TIME VERSUS CENTRAL MISSOURI

Central Missouri 67, Washburn 56 (December 13, 2025)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn fell for the first time in conference action on Saturday afternoon with a 67-56 loss to Central Missouri inside Lee Arena. The Ichabods will wrap up a four-game homestand on Tuesday, Dec. 16 against Truman State at 6 p.m.  

The Jennies (6-3, 2-1 MIAA) opened the game with the first five points. Washburn (6-3, 2-1 MIAA) was able to get going offensively, pulling ahead at 10-9 after a layup by Gabi Giovannetti at the 2:46 mark. Central Missouri kept connecting from outside, shooting 4-6 from deep in the quarter to lead 18-12 after 10 minutes.  

Both sides traded baskets to begin the second quarter, the Ichabods pulled within three points after a steal and score by Yiibari Nwidadah at the 5:02 mark. The Washburn offense bounced back after a slow first quarter to shot 50.0% in the second. They went in front briefly in the final minute after Payton Sterk sunk a pair of free throws. The Jennies matches with a free throw on the other end to go into the break tied at 29.  

The lead flipped sides to begin the third quarter. Washburn created separation with five straight points by Aniah Wayne to go up 39-35 with 5:23 remaining. The next six points came from the Jennies to go in front. They would lead by three heading to the fourth quarter at 45-42.  

Sterk hit a jumper with 7:29 to go in regulation that tied the game up at 45. The Ichabod offense slowed down while Central Missouri scored the next 10 points to lead by double figures inside of five minutes. Washburn got back-to-back triples by Amekporfor but were unable to cut the lead lower than eight as the Jennies won 67-56.  

The Ichabods finished the game shooting 39.6% from the floor and 4-16 from deep. Central Missouri shot 45.8% but was 8-20 (40.0%) from beyond the arc. A 37-27 rebounding advantage aided the Jennies while Washburn won the turnover battle 19-15.  

Madelyn Amekporfor led in scoring with 16 points on 5-11 shooting and grabbed a team-high five rebounds. Payton Sterk hit double figures at 10 points while Gabi Giovannetti added nine.  

Reese Schaaf and Taylor Weishaar each scored 24 points to lead Central Missouri.   

SERIES WITH CENTRAL MISSOURI

• Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 44-31.
• The Ichabods are 18-17 against the Jennies in Warrensburg, Mo.
• The series began on Jan. 17, 1990 with a 75-66 win for Washburn in Topeka. 
• Central Missouri won the first game between the two teams this season picking up a 67-56 win in Topeka on Dec. 13. 
• Washburn averages 65.71 ppg all-time against Central Missouri. 

WASHBURN HISTORY

• Washburn women's basketball is 1,028-513-1 (.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 returns to Lee Arena to play host to Arkansas-Fort Smith for the first time as a conference foe on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
• 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.