By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University women's basketball team will play its final non-conference game of the 2022-23 regular season on Thursday, hosting Bethany College in a 7 p.m. non-conference game at Lee Arena.
The Ichabodw, 4-5 on the season, last played on Dec. 17, dropping a 57-44 home MIAA decision to Missouri Western.
Washburn's women's basketball team will play its final non-conference game of the 2022-2023 season Thursday night against Bethany. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Bethany is 9-5 this season and has won its last three official games. The Swedes played an exhibition at MIAA member Fort Hays State on Dec. 19, losing to the Tigers, 80-46.
Thursday's contest will mark exactly one year since Washburn and Bethany last played each other when the Ichabods came away with a 71-50 home win. Thursday's game will count as an exhibition for Bethany.
Washburn is averaging 53.6 points per game and has a 36.9 field goal percentage. The Ichabods are third in the MIAA and ninth in all of Division II in fewest points allowed per game, holding opponents to just 53.8 points per game.
Through nine games, Washburn's defense has not allowed more than 64 points in a game and has held two opponents to 45 or fewer points.
Junior point guard Aubree Dewey has started all nine games for the Ichabods, averaging 10.9 points per game and ranks seventh in the MIAA with 3.4 assists per game.
Freshman Natalia Figueroa is the only other Ichabod who has started every game so far and is averaging 9.0 points. Figueroa has made at least one 3-pointer every game and is currently sixth in the MIAA in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.2 percent.
Mackenzie Gamble has made 17 3-pointers, just two less than Figueroa, and averages 7.7 points.
Emma Chapman and Macy Doebele are tied for the team-high in rebounds at 5.6 boards per game. Chapman averages 6.9 points and Doebele 6.1.
Emily Weathers averages 11.6 points and Autumn Garrett 10.7 points for Bethany.
Weathers is shooting 53.0 percent from the field and is tied for the team-lead in rebound at 5.1 rebounds per game.
Center Sarah Reiner is tied with Weathers with 5.1 rebounds per game and is averaging 7.9 points.
Washburn has played Bethany five times and has won all five games,
Both Washburn teams resume conference play on New Year's Eve at Central Oklahoma.
Tipoff for the women's game against the Bronchos is 1:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 3:30.
