By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn women's basketball will continue its season-opening home stretch to begin the 2022-2023 season, hosting the Washburn Classic Friday and Saturday at Lee Arena.
Washburn junior Mackenzie Gamble is averaging a team-high 14 points for the Ichabod women with eight 3-pointers in two games. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods will play host to Southern Nazarene University at 6 p.m. on Friday evening before finishing up the two-day classic against Rockhurst at 3 p.m. Saturday.
In addition to Washburn's games, Pittsburg State will play Rockhurst at 4 p.m. on Friday and will face Southern Nazarene at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Washburn began this season last weekend with a split in the Washburn Crossover Classic against Southwest Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Baptist.
Washburn started out the season with a win for the first time since the 2017-18 season, rolling to a 71-55 win over Southwest Oklahoma State last Friday. The Ichabods dropped a 43-42 decision to OBU on Saturday.
Junior Mackenzie Gamble is off to a hot start for Washburn, averaging 14 points while hitting eight of her 14 3-point attempts.
Former Bishop Miege standout Gabi Artis is averaging eight points for the Ichabods while senior Macy Doebele is averaging 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds and junior Aubree Dewey is averaging 7.0 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Junior Lauren Cassady averages a team-high 7.5 rebounds for WU.
Southern Nazarene is 1-2 on the season, defeating Arkansas Fort Smith 69-43 after falling to MIAA opponents Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State in its first two games.
Cassandra Awatt is averaging 15 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Crimson Storm, scoring 27 points with 13 rebounds in the Wednesday night win over Arkansas Fort Smith.
Rockhurst went 16-12 last season and 11-9 in the GLVC, advancing to the second round of the conference tournament before losing to Drury.
Rockhurst has won its last two games against Washburn, including a 71-69 win in the Washburn Thanksgiving Classic last season.
The Ichabods will remain at home for one more game before kicking off conference play.
On Wednesday, Nov. 23 Washburn will host Central Christian College at 6 p.m. in Lee Arena before taking on MIAA rival Northeastern State University on the road, Monday, Nov. 28.
Washburn men on road at Rockhurst Friday
Washburn men's basketball will face its second Great Lakes Valley Conference team in three days when the Ichabods travel to Kansas City, Mo. to face Rockhurst at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
Connor Deffebaugh is averaging a team-high 12 points for the 2-1 Washburn men's basketball team entering Friday night's road game at Rockhurst. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods are 2-1 this season and have won two straight games, including a 70-63 win over William Jewell Wednesday night at Lee Arena.
Rockhurst is 1-2 this season after falling 66-64 at Emporia State on Wednesday.
The Ichabods will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak to the Hawks in Kansas City. Washburn's last win in Mason-Halpin Arena came on Dec. 4, 2003 in a 69-54 victory.
Freshman Brady Christiansen 19 rebounds against William Jewell is the most in the NCAA D-II ranks this season.
Connor Deffebaugh leads three Ichabods averaging in double-figures with a 12-point average while Andrew Orr is averaging 10.3 points and Jaden Monday 10.0.
Freshman Jarmell Johnson is scoring 9.7 points a game off the bench and is coming off a career-high 14 points against William Jewell.
The Hawks are led by Rich Byhre, who is averaging 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds.
Washburn will play at Oklahoma Baptist next Tuesday and the Ichabods will be at home on Saturday, Nov. 26, to face Ottawa.
