By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's women's basketball team begins the final week of its regular season with a 5:30 p.m. home game against Northeastern State on Tuesday evening in Lee Arena.
Washburn, 12-13 overall, 10-9 in the MIAA, will be looking to get back in the win column after falling 58-53 in overtime at Northwest Missouri on Saturday while the RiverHawks are 6-20, 4-16 after going 1-1 at home last week. They defeated Newman, 64-57, before dropping their game against Central Oklahoma, 74-46.
The Ichabods posted a 61-50 win against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. on Feb. 5.
Washburn leads the all-time series with Norhteastern, 12-6, and has won six of the last seven games.
Senior Hunter Bentley moved into the No. 6 spot on Washburn's career scoring list with a 26-point game at Northwest Missouri last Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn senior standout Hunter Bentley is eighth in the MIAA in scoring with a 14.6-point scoring average and has scored 10 or more points in eight consecutive games, including four 20-plus-point games during that stretch.
After her 26- point effort at Northwest Missouri, Bentley passed Latisha Yarnell (1984-88) and moved up to No. 6 on Washburn's career scoring list. Bentley currently has 1,567 points in her time as an Ichabod.
In Saturday's loss at Northwest Missouri, Bentley made 10 field goals for the third time in her career and second time this season, after making 10 of 14 at Northeastern State.
Abby Oliver played 38 minutes at Northwest Missouri and finished with seven points and six rebounds to go with two blocks.
For the season, the former Wabaunsee standout is second on the team with an 8.8 scoring average and is grabbing 4.6 rebounds per game.
Hanover product Macy Doebele scored 14 points against the Bearcats and has now scored 14 points in four games this season. Doebele has started 19 of the 24 games she's played and contributes 8.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Senior Nuria Barrientos leads the Ichabods with 133 total rebounds for a 5.3 rpg average. She also contributes 6.5 points and 1.0 blocks.
Next week (March 2-6) will be MIAA Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. with the top 10 teams in the final standings competing in the tournament.
Washburn has already clinched a spot in the tournament and is currently eighth in the standings with a 10-9 record.
Northeastern State is led by Maleeah Langstaff, who averages 17.2 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Langstaff has recorded eight double-doubles and has been the only player in the MIAA to have a triple-double this season
Zaria Collins averages 11.4 points and is second on the team in rebounds with a 6.9 average.
Washburn's Senior Night will take place on Thursday at the conclusion of the Ichabods' game against Missouri Southern.
