Washburn University Ichabods
Senior star Yibari Nwidadah and the 15-7 Washburn women will be back in Lee Arena to host Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night. [File photo/TSN]Ichabod softball to put 8-2 record on the line in Oklahoma tourney
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brenda Holaday's 8-2 Washburn softball team will compete this weekend in Tahlequah, Okla. [File photo/TSN]WU's Dalaney Anderson is second in the nation in runs batted in with 17 while Makenzie Sais leads the nation in stolen bases with 19 and she is ranked third in stolen bases per game at 1.90. Sais stole four bases against William Jewell.
As a team the Ichabods are fifth in the nation in stolen bases with 29 and sixth in total runs with 76. Washburn is also seventh in RBI with 68, 10th in doubles with 17, 11th in hits with 94 and 15th in fielding percentage at .980.
A dominant five-run sixth inning propelled Washburn to a 7–5 comeback victory over Truman State on Sunday morning in its final game at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic.Trailing 5–2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Washburn's offense erupted.
The inning continued with a double from Seaman product Aspen Burgardt, followed by an RBI single from Madi Moore to account for the final margin.
In addition to Anderson's three RBI on her go-ahead home run, Boles, Shawnee Heights product Taylor Brees, Moore and Maddie McGee each contributed an RBI as Washburn totaled 10 hits.
Jenna Sprague was outsanding in relief in the pitching circle to pick up her first win of the season.
Washburn baseball set to host Steve Anson Classic this weekend
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn began the season 1-3 on the year after playing four road games in South Florida. The Ichabods finished the trip with a 6-0 loss to to Barry on Monday.
Douglas said he saw some good things in the Ichabods' Florida performance while also seeing plenty of things that need work.
"I thought this last weekend would be kind of a testament of our identity, kind of where we were going to be, what we were going to be like,'' Douglas said. "I thought we did a good job of coming out and competing and if you look at it, every game was tight and where it needed to be besides the last one when we didn't hit well.
"I think we had some good stuff come out of it.''
The Ichabods are coming off a fourth straight winning season in 2025, going 28-25 overall and 18-18 inside the MIAA. Washburn finished seveth in the regular season and won two games in the MIAA Tournament before falling in the semifinal round.
The Ichabods were picked to finish fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll for a second straight year.
Washburn is scoring 7.5 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 9.0 runs per game.
At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .209 with a .394 on base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage. Washburn has tallied three home runs with 31 total walks, including a program-record 17 against Palm Beach Atlantic.
The WU pitching staff has a 7.99 earned run average with 30 strikeouts across 32.2 innings. The Ichabods have allowed 50 hits and issued 16 walks.
Washburn has a .966 fielding percentage as a team with five errors and has not turned a double play.
On the basepaths the Ichabods have gone 3-6 in stolen base attempts while opponents have gone 5-7.
Washburn returned 19 players from the 2025 roster.
Trenton Barry and Jarrett Herrmann have the highest hitting streak entering the weekend at two games while Levi Risenhoover had the longest hitting streak of the year at three games and he leads the team with two home runs and six RBI.
Owen Laessig, Ian Luce and Chase Littrell have all reached base in all four games this season.
Right-handed hitters are hitting more than .100 points worse than left-handed hitters when facing the Ichabods.
Washburn is outscoring opponents 21-14 over the final two innings of games.
Seaman product Maclane Finley has pitched a team-high 6.0 innings in his one start. He has a 1.50 ERA with a pair of strikeouts and a 1.33 WHIP. He is 10th in the MIAA in ERA.
Kai Bennett has made one appearance this year, throwing 5.0 innings. He has allowed just one run for a 1.80 ERA and has three strikeouts with a WHIP of just .80. He is third in the MIAA in hits allowed per nine innings while ranking seventh in the conference in WHIP.
Seaman product Gavin Wilhelm is 1-0 on the year, throwing a scoreless inning in his only appearance with a strikeout.
Doulas enters his 12th season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program in 2025.
In 11 full seasons, Douglas carries an all-time record of 285-245 with seven appearances in the MIAA Tournament and led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2022.
Washburn women ride 3-point barrage to 85-70 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball returned to Lee Arena Thursday for only the third time over its past 10 games and took full advantage of the opportunity, draining a season-high 13 3-pointers on the way to an 85-70 MIAA win over Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Washburn senior Payton Sterk scored a game-high 23 points in Thursday's 85-70 MIAA win over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn senior Aniah Wayne (24) is congratulated by her teammates after draining one of her six 3-pointers in Thursday's 85-70 MIAA win over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The underdog Lions stayed within striking distance for most of the night before Washburn stretched out its lead down the stretch, improving to 16-7 overall and 9-5 in the MIAA while Arkansas-Fort Smith dropped to 4-19, 3-11.
"I know what everybody else saw in their record,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "We knew they were a much better team than that and they can score and move and defend. So we had to settle in and wear them out a little bit and I think we stayed consistent enough.
"We turned it over too many times on some unforced things, but I was really proud of our resiliency and then we saw some shots go in.''
After Washburn scored the first six points of the game the next 12 came from the Lions.
Washburn answered right back, scoring 10 in a row after senior Aniah Wayne knocked down a fast break 3-pointer. It was the first of four 3-pointers for Wayne inside the final five minutes of the quarter as she helped the Ichabods build a 25-21 advantage.
Senior Aniah Wayne hit six of nine 3-pointers Thursday in Washburn's 85-70 MIAA win over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Wayne, who tied her career-high with 19 points while hitting 6 of 9 shots from 3-point range, said she had an inkling before the game that Thursday was going to be a good night.
"I think I felt it during warmups,'' Wayne said. "I have a consistent little shot routine before games, so getting shots up and seeing them go in helped me build my confidence going into the game.''
Despite fighting foul trouble, the Ichabods continued to churn offensively, shooting 46.2 percent in the second quarter with three more connections from deep.
Arkansas-Fort Smith kept pace, staying within four before going in front 38-36 with 1:45 remaining in the half, using a 6-0 run.
Washburn scored the final six points on triples from Wayne and senior Payton Sterk to lead 42-38 going into halftime.
Both teams continued to trade baskets out of the break, but Wayne provided some breathing room for the Ichabods, pushing the lead to four with 4:55 left in the third when she hit another 3-pointer.
The Ichabods then got stingy on the defensive end, holding the Lions without a basket for the final 4:44 of the third quarter. Washburn finished the stanza on a 6-0 run to lead 58-49.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti scored the first five points of the fourth quarter for Washburn, pushing the lead into double figures.
The Ichabod offense kept the lead there, shooting 68.8 percent for the quarter to score 27 points in the frame. The Ichabods led by as many as 18 points after Kellyn Hunter scored with 2:34 left as the Ichabods eased into the 15-point win.
Both teams shot an even 50.0 percent from the field in the game, but the Ichabods took 18 more shots than Arkansas-Fort Smith while also going 13-25 from 3-point range to create their advantage.
Washburn had a narrow 31-28 lead on the glass but won the turnover battle 22-15, leading to 27 points off turnovers while the Lions had just 11. Paint scoring also went in favor of the Ichabods, 34-24.
Sterk led the way with 23 points on 7-15 shooting, turning in her second straight big night against the Lions after burning Arkansas-Fort Smith for 33 points last season.
"That's crazy,'' Sterk said. "I don't know what it is. I must just play good against them.
"I think us guards had been struggling a little bit shooting-wise in past games, so that was a good part of today and Aniah killed it. She was just hot, but it was all good.''
No. 3-ranked Ichabods bounce back from first loss with 81-53 win over No. 25 Lions
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 3-ranked Washburn Ichabods bounced back from their first loss of the season Thursday night in Lee Arena, pulling away in the second half to rout No. 25-ranked Arkansas-Fort Smith, 81-53.
Junior Jack Bachelor scored a game-high 16 points in Washburn's 81-53 MIAA win over Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn improved to 23-1 overall and 13-1 in the MIAA while Arkansas-Fort Smith fell to 18-5, 9-5.
Washburn trailed 31-30 at halftime after shooting just 37.5 percent in the opening half, but took control after the break, outscoring the Lions 51-22.
"The first 10 minutes of the game we were stagnant,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "And then we finally got them moving and I did think we did a good job of sharing it (22 assists on 29 field goals).
"We got some transition, which was good and converted in transition, and then we were able to execute some stuff in the halfcourt and kind of got them chasing and played a little stronger as the game went along.''
The Ichabods opened the second half on an 11-2 surge to build a 41-33 lead and never let the margin dip below six the rest of the way.
A 10-0 run midway through the half stretched the Washburn advantage into double figures and a later 13-3 burst pushed the Ichabods' lead past 20.
The Ichabods shot 55.9 percent in the second half (19 of 34) and 46.8 percent for the game, compared to 34.4 percent shooting by the Lions, including nine of 29 shooting in the second half (31 percent).
Washburn also heated up from deep, finishing 11 of 32 from 3-point range (34.4 percent), while holding the Lions to six of 25 (24.0 percent), including three of 14 in the second half.
Washburn rode balanced scoring to the win as junior Jack Bachelor's 16 points led the way for the Ichabods.
Bachelor, who was battling through illness, hit four of six 3-point attempts, went five of nine overall and connected on both of his free throw attempts.
"I've got some kind of bug or something,'' Bachelor said. "Luckily, my mom (Angie) is a nurse so I can just call her and feel like a little baby again and she kind of takes care of me. I'm feeling better now and I'll be good by Saturday.''
And Bachelor played a lot better against the Lions than he felt.
"My teammates were finding me tonight and the shot felt good,'' Bachelor said. "We just played a really good second half as a team and got back to what we were about after that loss Saturday and that was good. I'm just really proud of the guys and our togetherness as a team.''
Senior Bryson Smith scored 15 points Thursday night as Washburn improved to 23-1 with an 81-53 win over No. 25 Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Jeremiah Jones (22) and Washburn outscored Arkansas-Fort Smith 51-22 in the second half Thursday on the way to an 81-53 MIAA win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Bryson Smith added 15 points and four assists and junior Jeremiah Jones scored 14 points while sophomore Dillon Claussen had eight points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
"Coach just told us (at halftime) that we have to come out here and play with an edge,'' Jones said. "This was a good team and every game's going to be hard every night and we had to turn up the pressure and get some stops.''
Smith said the Ichabods would rather take control of games from the outset, but he said the team also knows it's capable of coming from behind to get the job done.
"We don't want to do that all the time,'' Smith said. "Coach always preaches to come out and set the tone and I think in these next couple of games we're going to find a way to come out and set the tone, but this whole year we've shown that we're a second-half team, one of the best second-half teams in the country.
"So we knew we were going to come out in the second half and be ready to go.''
Washburn women pull away down the stretch for 72-64 win over Northeastern
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A second-half surge, spearheaded by senior Gabi Giovannetti and junior Britany Kogbara, gave Washburn University's women's basketball team a 72-64 MIAA win at Lee Arena on Saturday afternoon in front of a Pink Out crowd.
In a game that included 22 lead changes and 12 ties, Washburn, now 17-7 overall and 10-5 in the MIAA, played its best down the stretch, with the Ichabods' final eight-point margin its biggest of the day.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti scored a game-high 17 points to lead Washburn in a 72-64 MIAA win over Northeastern State Saturday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I was real proud of our second-half effort,'' said Washburn coach Lora Westling, whose Ichabods are now within one win of equaling their win total from 2024-2025 with a minimum of five games remaining. "I think we got on our heels a little bit in the first half. Credit to Northeastern, they're a tough team and they played well.
"But I thought we just had really good leadership in the second half, particularly from Gabi Giovannetti and Britany Kogbara. I was really proud of their resiliency.''
WU and Northeastern State traded baskets throughout the first quarter, with multiple ties and lead changes before a 3-pointer by senior Aniah Wayne inside the final minute producing a 15-15 deadlock heading into the second period.
Washburn created some separation with a five-point lead after senior Payton Sterk hit a trey to make it 22-17.
But the RiverHawks (16-8, 8-7) battled back, scoring 10 of the next 14 points to go in front 27-26 at the four-minute mark of the second quarter. This time a 3-pointer in the final minute by Northeastern State put it ahead 36-33 at the half.
Out of the break the RiverHawks pushed the lead to its game-high five in the opening minutes. The Ichabods were able to tighten up defensively, allowing them to go on a 5-0 run and tie the game at 44. Both teams shot under 30.0 percent in the quarter and it was a pair of free throws by Sterk in the final second of the quarter that gave Washburn a 50-49 lead at the start of the fourth.
Northeastern State continued to answer back, taking the lead three times in the first five minutes of the fourth. But a fastbreak and-one layup by sophomore Brooke Gomez with 3:04 left would put the Ichabods in front for good.
"Once you stack defensive stops and then good possessions on offense, then there's no stopping us from there,'' said Giovannetti, who led all scorers with 17 points. "I thought Britany had a very good end of the game and second half. She was really dominant down there.''
The Ichabods finished the game shooting 44.4 percent overall and 4-13 from deep while going 20-27 at the free throw line. Northeastern State shot 42.6 percent from the floor while going 5-17 from deep and were efficient in limited trips at the line shooting (13-16).
The rebounding battle was won 35-26 by Washburn and points in the paint also went in favor of the home team, 40-24.
Giovannetti led five players in double figures for the Ichabods.
Washburn junior Britany Kogbara narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds in a 72-64 MIAA win over Northeastern State Saturday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Kogbara added 11 points with nine rebounds and a pair of blocked shots while Sterk had 11 with five assists. Wayne and Gomez both scored 10 points for the Ichabods.
Kogbara has been a valuable reserve all season for the Ichabods in her first year in the program, but was in the game in crunch time Saturday and was huge down the stretch.
"That just shows the amount of trust that coach has in me,'' Kogbara said. "I know that she puts me out there for a reason and I'm just going to go out there and execute what she believes that I have.''
Smith faces off with former team, helps No. 3-ranked Ichabods rout RiverHawks, 78-54
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When Washburn University men's basketball last faced Northeastern State on Feb. 15, 2025, Bryson Smith scored 10 points with 11 assists and three steals as the RiverHawks upset the Ichabods 88-84 in Tahlequah, Okla.
Senior Bryson Smith scored 11 points with five assists and four steals in Saturday's 78-54 Washburn win over Northeastern State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Saturday in Lee Arena was deja vu, with one very big twist, as Smith, who transferred to Washburn over the offseason, helped the No. 3-ranked Ichabods post a 78-54 romp past Northeastern.
"I was looking forward to it for sure, playing against my old team and I know a lot of guys on the team,'' said Smith, a 6-foot-2 senior guard. "Coming in, I was just locked in this whole week.''
Smith scored 11 points with five assists and four steals as Washburn improved to 24-1 and 14-1 in the MIAA with its 27th consecutive home victory.
"I started off well in the game but I did some undisciplined stuff, probably just because I was amped up,'' Smith said. "I had a couple of early fouls that took me out of the game, but I was excited and I'm glad we got the dub.''
Washburn trailed just once in the game, at 3-0, and took control by halftime, leading by as many as 19 points on the way to a 41-27 advantage.
After the RiverHawks' early trey Washburn flipped the script with an 11-0 burst.
Washburn shot a blistering 63 percent in the opening half and scored 28 points in the paint over the first 20 minutes while forcing 16 Northeastern State turnovers.
The Ichabods pushed the margin to 20 early in the second half behind back-to-back baskets from senior Brady Christiansen and Smith and went on to lead of as many as 29 late in the game.
"I thought it was kind of a sloppy, ugly game,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "A lot of turnovers for both teams. I thought we did a great job of turning them over, especially early, and created some transition for us and allowed us to get out to a good lead.
"I did think we came out with the right intensity and purpose and kind of built that lead early, which is important.''
Sophomore Dillon Claussen led Washburn with 14 points and also grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots in Saturday's 78-54 win over Northeastern State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Dillon Claussen led a balanced Washburn attack with 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting while adding six rebounds and three blocks.
In addition to Smith, Christiansen also scored 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting and junior Jack Bachelor added 10 points, knocking down all four of his free throws.
Junior Jeremiah Jones anchored the glass with five rebounds to go with six points, five assists and two steals while sophomore Tyson Ruud scored 10 of Washburn's 26 bench points and added six boards.
Washburn finished the game shooting 55.6 percent (30 of 54) from the floor while scoring 48 points in the paint and turning 24 Northeastern State turnovers into 12 points.
The Ichabods also held a 38-28 rebounding edge and led for more than 39 minutes.
The Ichabods held the RiverHawks 38 points under their season scoring average of 82.9 points per game.
Washburn will go on its final road trip of the regular season with games at Central Oklahoma next Thursday and Rogers State next Saturday before wrapping up the last week of the regular season hosting Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.
The Ichabods hold a three-game lead in the MIAA standings with four conference games to go.
No. 3 Washburn men looking to bounce back from first loss in home tilt with No. 25 Lions
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With its 22-game winning streak now in the rearview mirror after last Saturday's 74-72 loss at Central Missouri, all of Washburn University's attention is on the future, beginning with the No. 3-ranked Ichabods 7:30 p.m. Thursday matchup with No. 25-ranked Arkansas-Fort Smith in Lee Arena.
Washburn junior Jeremiah Jones (22) leads the nation in steals entering Thursday night's home MIAA contest with Arkansas-Fort Smith. [File photo/TSN]
"Coach (Brett Ballard) didn't say we needed that (loss), but he said it was good for us as a team and takes the pressure off of us to where we can go out and play free now and not worry about losing and just play hard,'' Ichabod junior Jeremiah Jones said.
"I think that was needed. Obviously the MIAA is very hard and very physical and any team can beat you on any night, so now we just don't want to let one loss become two or let two become three. Coach has really been harping on that and we know that Fort Smith is going to be really tough.''
Ballard said that trying to go undefeated was never something that the Ichabods talked about and said his team just wants to keep improving with postseason rapidly approaching.
"I never really took two thoughts about a team going undefeated,'' Ballard said. "We play the seventh hardest schedule in the country and playing in this league I don't give any thought to that. You just try to win the next one's that in front of you for sure.
"Our focus is just getting better and just trying to go win the next one. The most positive thing for me is we've just had more edge in our practices the last couple of days. I think the guys are hungry to get back on track.''
Washburn is 22-1 and 12-1 in the MIAA while Arkansas-Fort Smith is 18-4 and 9-4 in the MIAA after topping Fort Hays State at home last Saturday, 87-77.
Thursday's game is the only regular-season meeting between the Ichabods and the Lions this season.
The Ichabods have the No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA at 88.0 points per game while defensively the Ichabods have the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the conference, allowing 63.0 points a game.
The Lions are averaging 83.6 points and allowing 69.8 points, ranking fourth on both MIAA stat charts.
Washburn has already recorded its 32nd 20-win season in program history and sixth under Ballard in his ninth season on the Ichabod bench.
The Ichabods are second in NCAA Division II in scoring margin at plus 25.0 and are ranked second in field goal percentage at 51.7 percent and second in rebound margin plus 10.9.
Jones leads the nation in total steals with 73 and is ranked third in steals per game at 3.32 per contest. Jones now has 75 steals this season, seven off the Ichabod single-season record of 82 set by Will McNeill in 2012-13. Jones needs two steals to break the junior class record of 76 set in 2012.
Washburn sophomore Dillon Claussen is ninth in the nation in field goal percentage at 63.2 percent while junior Jack Bachelor ranks 22nd nationally in assist to turnover ratio at 2.61 to 1.
Ichabod softball improves to 8-2 with comeback win over Truman State
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A five-run sixth inning propelled Washburn University softball to a 7–5 comeback victory over Truman State on Sunday in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic in Bentonville, Ark., lifting Washburn to an 8-2 record on the season.
Sophomore Dalaney Anderson hit a three-run home run to power Washburn softball to a 7-5 comeback win over Truman State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Trailing 5-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Washburn's offense erupted with a game-changing rally.
Erin Boles opened the surge with an RBI single, plating Ashley Gaughan to make it a 5-3 game.
Two batters later, Dalaney Anderson delivered the game's biggest swing, a three-run home run to left field that put the Ichabods ahead 6–5.
The inning continued with a double from Seaman product Aspen Burgardt, followed by an RBI single from Madi Moore to extend the lead to 7–5.
Anderson finished the day with three RBI, all coming on her go-ahead blast.
Boles, Shawnee Heights grad Taylor Brees, Moore, and Maddie McGee all contributed an RBI as Washburn totaled 10 hits.
In the circle, Jenna Sprague was outstanding in relief for the Ichabods.
Entering in the fourth inning, Sprague tossed 32/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while keeping Truman off the board to earn her first win of the season.
Truman built an early lead, thanks to a grand slam from Cassie Smith, but after Washburn starter Kierra Goos exited, Sprague steadied Washburn and shut the Bulldogs down the rest of the way.
Washburn's scoring began in the second inning when McGee drove in Danielle Schlader. Brees later added an RBI double in the fourth as part of a two-hit performance.
Washburn returns to action Friday through Sunday in Tahlequah, Okla. at the Cherokee Classic.
Washburn women to close out road swing at Central Missouri
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Yibari Nwidadah leads 15-6 Washburn in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage entering Saturday's game at Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]No. 1-ranked Washburn men face road test at Central Missouri
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brett Ballard's No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods will put their 22-game winning streak on the line Saturday at Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]Washburn is 22-0 overall and 12-0 in the MIAA this season, -one of two remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II along with Cal State East Bay after topping Nebraska-Kearney 89-67 last Saturday in Kearney.
The Mules are 17-7 this season and 8-4 in the MIAA and have won their last two games, including a 61-49 win at Fort Hays State last Saturday.
Washburn won the first meeting with the Mules 78-72 in double overtime on Dec. 13 in Lee Arena.
The Ichabods have the No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA, putting up 88.8 points per game.
Defensively, the Ichabods have the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the MIAA, allowing 62.5 points per game.
The Ichabods are second in NCAA Division II in scoring margin at plus 27.9 points per game and are ranked second in field goal percentage at 51.7 percent and second in rebound margin at plus 11.5.
Washburn has not been out-rebounded in a game this season and has only been tied twice (Lubbock Christian and Emporia State).
Sophomore Dillon Claussen is ninth in the nation in field goal percentage at 63.2 percent and junior Jeremiah Jones leads the nation in total steals with 73 and is ranked third in steals per game at 3.32 per contest.
The Ichabods' 22-game winning streak is the longest in the nation, ahead of Cal St. East Bay's 20-game winning streak.
Washburn women's comeback falls short in 64-58 loss at Central Missouri
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sophomore Brooke Gomez (1) scored a game and career-high 23 points in Saturday's 64-58 road loss at Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]The Jennies (17-5 overall, 11-2 MIAA) jumped in front early, leading 11-6. Washburn (15-7, 8-5) battled to tie the game at 14 after a 6-0 run and bucket by Madelyn Amekporfor at the 1:04 mark of the opening quarter. Central Missouri scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 18-14 after one.
A 5-0 run from the home team pushed the lead to double figures with 5:12 to play in the first half. The Jennies offense knocked down four 3-pointers in the second quarter while shooting 50.0 percent overall as the Washburn deficit grew to 37-25 at the half.
Washburn chipped away at the lead in the third quarter, cutting it down to six points at the 5:32 mark after sophomore Brooke Gomez knocked down a 3-pointer, the first and only trey of the game for the Ichabods.
The Jennies' lead was boosted back to double figures at 49-39 after a triple from Central Missouri with 1:09 seconds left in the quarter.
The offense of Washburn got off to a fast start in the fourth quarter, scoring the first six points, with the final four from Gomez to pull within four.
The deficit was cut down to four once more with 6:07 left but the Jennies fired back with five straight points.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti got an old-fashioned 3-point play with 33 seconds left, once again making it a four-point game. But the next two offensive possessions came up empty for the Ichabods, with the Jennies putting the game away at the free throw line.
Washburn narrowly out-shot Central Missouri from the floor, 44.6 percent clip to 44.2. The Ichabods were 1-14 from deep while the home squad went 7-18.
The Jennies led on the boards, 32-30, while Washburn had a 48-28 advantage in paint scoring.
Gomez led all scorers with a career-high 23 points on 11 of 13 shooting.
Reese Schaaf had 18 points to go along with nine rebounds to lead Central Missouri.
Mules halt No. 1 Washburn basketball's 22-game winning streak, 74-72
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Junior Jack Bachelor led Washburn with 18 points in Saturday's 74-72 Ichabod loss at Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]Ichabod softball in action this weekend with five games in Bentonville Arkansas
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kate Ediger is hitting a team-high .625 for 4-1 Washburn softball with six runs and five RBI. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]William Jewell will be opening its 2026 season this weekend.
Southeastern Oklahoma was 2-3 last weekend at the D2 First Pitch Invitational.
Brenda Holaday is 283-169 in her 10th season as the Ichabod softball coach and is the all-time winningest coach in program history.
Holaday coached 19 seasons at Washburn Rural, compiling a 351-93 (.791) record.
Washburn baseball opens 2026 season with four games in Florida
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Jackson Mervosh is a top returner for Washburn, which opens its season this weekend in Florida. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn is coming off a fourth straight winning season in 2025, going 28-25 overall and 18-18 inside the MIAA. They finished seventh in the regular season and won two games in the MIAA Tournament before falling in the semifinal round.
They were picked to finish fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll for a second straight year.
Washburn will return 19 players from the 2025 roster with eight of them as seniors, four juniors and seven freshmen.
Washburn had nine players earn All-MIAA honors a season ago and will return a pair of them in 2026.
Jackson Mervosh returns to the Ichabod infield after earning All-MIAA second-team and All-Region honors last season.
As a junior he started in 52 games and played in all 53 hitting .356 with 77 total hits and 10 home runs. He set a program record with 24 doubles. He had eight games with three or more hits.
Jackson Mervosh has the 18th highest batting average in program history at .356. He is tied for 47th among all Ichabods with 24 doubles.
Mervosh led the MIAA and ranked fifth nationally last season with 24 doubles.
Caleb Lunnon returns for his senior season after earning All-MIAA third-team recognition last season.
In his first season with Washburn he appeared in 14 games making 12 starts and tossing 65.0 innings, second most on the team. He finished with a 5-1 record, a team-high in victories, with 51 strikeouts. Lunnon tossed five or more strikeouts in seven outings last season.
Washburn is adding 28 newcomers to the 2026 roster with nine freshmen and 19 transfers joining the team.
The group of transfers features a pair of seniors, 15 juniors, one sophomore and a redshirt freshman.
The transfer group includes Topeka natives Zach Sharshel, Maclane Finley and Scout Jellison, who are all pitchers.
Washburn's 47-man roster consists of players from eight different states. There are 21 players on the roster who are from Kansas.
In the 2026 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll, the Ichabods were picked fifth, the same place they were picked to finish in the 2025 preseason poll as well.
Central Missouri was picked to repeat as the regular season champion, earning 12 of 13 first-place votes with 144 total points. Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma are picked to finish second and third respectively.
Harley Douglas enters his 12th season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program.
In eleven full seasons, Douglas carries an all-time record of 284-242 with seven appearances in the MIAA Tournament and led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2022.
Griffin Huiatt is tied for fifth in program history with seven career saves and is tied for seventh in Washburn history with 53 career appearances.
Washburn University football announces diverse 34-member 2026 recruiting class
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football coach Zach Watkins announced a diverse 34-member high school recruiting class on Wednesday, including five city products.
Washburn football coach Zach Watkins announced a 2026 recruiting class on Wednesday that includes 34 high school players and 17 transfers who are already on campus. [File photo/TSN]
"Our staff did a tremendous job of identifying what we needed on the roster and going out and identifying the kids that fit those needs,'' said Watkins, who will be starting his second season as WU's head coach in 2026. "We've been recruiting these guys since February of '25, so to see a full year of recruiting come to fruition and the kids all signed is very satisfying.''
Watkins also confirmed that Washburn, which is coming off a 3-8 campaign, has picked up 17 transfers who are currently enrolled at WU for the spring semester.
"We got hired last year and had a month to recruit,'' Watkins said. "This year we had a year to recruit. We signed 34 high school kids and 17 transfers who are here on campus right now and they started in January. They're the most talented group of transfers we've ever brought in here at Washburn.
"Those transfers provide immediate help and immediate depth and then like I said from Day 1 when we got hired as a staff, we're going to be a high school-based recruiting program. We're going to recuit Topeka, we're going to recruit Kansas, the Midwest and branch out from there and the 34 kids we signed really filled the needs we have and the depth we needed to create, we got that done in this class.''
Washburn Rural's Jordy Heim (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) and John Hoytal (6-3, 200) signed on Wednesday along with Hayden's Kade Mitchell (5-9, 175), Shawnee Heights' Aiden Scott (6-5, 200) and Topeka West's Logan Hunninghake (6-2, 250).
John Hoytal, Washburn Rural
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Hoytal, Mitchell and Scott earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors this past fall while Heim was a Second 22 all-county honoree and Hunninghake earned all-county honorable mention.
Hoytal played quarterback for Washburn Rural but is projected as a tight end in college while Mitchell is a running back, Scott a quarterback, Heim a linebacker and Hunninghake an offensive lineman.
"The kids we got from Topeka we're really excited about,'' Watkins said.
The Washburn recruiting class includes 11 players that played at Kansas high schools along with 12 Missouri prep products, seven from Texas, three from Florida and one from Nebraska.
There's also diversity among position groups, with eight players projected as defensive backs, six defensive linemen and five offensive linemen, four wide receivers, three linebackers and running backs, two tight ends, two punter/kickers and one quarterback.
Washburn recruiting capsules:
A1 Lock & Key Performers Feb. 2, 2026
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Daniel Allen
DANIEL ALLEN, Washburn Rural
Allen, a junior boys swimmer, captured four gold medals in Thursday's Topeka City Swimming Championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium as Washburn Rural extended its city championship streak to seven straight with a dominating 609-371 margin over Seaman. Allen won individual titles in the 100-yard butterfly (52.22 seconds) and 100 backstroke (52.82) and swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley relay (1:41.75) and 400 free relay (3:24.55) teams.
BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural
A freshman basketball standout, Anderson was named the Most Valuable Player in the Glaciers Edge Tournament at Emporia after scoring a game-high 20 points in the championship game as Washburn Rural captured the tournament title with a 48-42 win over Wichita Southeast. Anderson hit 5 of 10 shots from the field, including a 3-pointer, and went 9 of 10 at the free throw line for the 10-4 Junior Blues.
Madi Blanco
MADI BLANCO, Washburn Rural
Blanco, a girls wrestling star, went 3-0 on the day with three pins to capture the 140-pound championship in Saturday's 20-school Washburn Women's Invitational. Blanco, a two-time Class 6A state medalist, needed just 37 seconds in the championship match to win the title after beginning the day with 1:31 and 2:14 pins. Blanco was ranked No. 3 in 6A and No. 5 in the All-Class rankings by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association.
Ichabod softball opens 2026 season with 4-1 record in season-opening Texas trip
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod softball team wrapped up a 4-1 weekend at the Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas with a pair of run-rule wins on Sunday, 11-3 over Lubbock Christian and 10-2 over Texas A&M-Kingsville, both in five innings.
Senior Sadie Walker turned in a pair of strong relief performances Sunday as Washburn softball capped a 4-1 season-opening weekend. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods are scheduled to be in action next weekend at the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament in Bentonville, Ark.
Washburn exploded for a nine-run third inning and never looked back, powering past Lubbock Christian 11-3 in five innings Saturday morning.
The Ichabods pounded out 12 hits, capitalized on defensive miscues and got a steady effort in the circle to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Washburn struck first in the opening frame when Makenzie Sais singled, stole second and eventually scored as Dalaney Anderson reached on an error, giving the Ichabods a 1-0 lead.
Lubbock Christian answered in the third on an RBI triple from Alexis Clark and an RBI single by Ava Castillo to briefly move in front 2-1.
But the lead lasted only moments as Anderson tied the game with a solo home run to left-center to start the bottom half, igniting Washburn's decisive rally.
Maddie McGee delivered a two-run single up the middle, Sais added an RBI single and Erin Boles brought home another run on a fielder's choice. A wild pitch plated a run before Kate Ediger capped the outburst with a two-run single, pushing the margin to 10-2 by the end of the inning.
The Lady Chaps scratched across a run in the fifth on an RBI double from Brianna Chambers-Lee, but Washburn answered immediately. Anderson drew a walk and scored from first when Seaman product Aspen Burgardt ripped an RBI double to deep left, ending the game via run rule.
Anderson finished 2 for 3 with three RBI, a home run and three runs scored, while Sais went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Ediger added two hits and four RBI and McGee drove in two as part of the Ichabods' balanced attack.
Manhattan grad Kierra Goos earned the win for Washburn, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Sadie Walker closed the final frame, striking out three while surrendering one run.
Washburn did not commit an error defensively and stole multiple bases.
Washburn erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning and rode a dominant relief outing from Walker to a 10-2 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday afternoon.
The Ichabods collected 12 hits in the victory, improving to 4-1 on the season.
Texas A&M-Kingsville grabbed the early lead in the first when Victoria Vargas doubled and later scored on an RBI single up the middle from Alexis Soliz.
Washburn pulled even in the third after former Shawnee Heights standout Taylor Brees singled, moved around the bases, and scored on Anderson's RBI single through the left side.
Washburn women bounce back from loss with 76-65 road win over Lopers
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball bounced back from a Thursday night loss to No. 5-ranked Fort Hays State to pull away down the stretch to defeat Nebraska-Kearney 76-65 on the road Saturday afternoon.
Junior Madelyn Amekporfor led a balanced Washburn offensive attack with 13 points in Saturday's 76-65 MIAA road win at Nebraska-Kearney. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn improved to 15-6 overall and 8-4 in the MIAA with Saturday's win, earning a regular-season sweep over the Lopers, 11-12, 4-8.
It was a quick start offensively for Washburn as the Ichabods led 8-3 after a basket by senior Gabi Giovannetti at the 7:18 mark of the first quarter.
The Lopers tied it up but the Ichabod offense shot 50.0 percent in the opening frame to build an 18-14 lead.
The first of three 3-pointers for junior 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.
The Lopers scored five in a row to go in front 37-35, but Washburn sophomore Brooke Gomez knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Ichabods up 38-37 at the half.
Both sides traded baskets for much of the third quarter while the Ichabods remained in front the whole way. The Ichabods created separation with the final four points coming from Gomez and junior 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 before the the Ichabods responded with an 8-0 run to lead by nine after junior Kellyn Hunter scored on a driving layup with 2:16 left.
Senior Payton Sterk put the game away with four free throws in the final minute to finish off the 11-point win.
Washburn shot a season-high 52.1 percent from the field along with an efficient 5-12 from 3-point range and 21-24 at the line. The Ichabods held the Lopers to 37.1-percent shooting while the home squad shot 41.7 percent 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 fewer times than Washburn, but the Ichabods scored seven more points off giveaways.
Top-ranked Washburn men improve to 22-0 with 89-67 MIAA road romp past Lopers
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Top-ranked Washburn University men's basketball pushed its unbeaten streak to 22 games Saturday afternoon, taking an 89-67 road win at Nebraska-Kearney.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored a career-high 27 points in Washburn's 89-67 MIAA road win at Nebraska-Kearney Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Now 22-0 overall and 12-0 in the MIAA, the Ichabods had to navigate a competitive opening stretch that featured six lead changes and four ties in the first 10 minutes.
UNK grabbed an early 6-3 edge, but Washburn answered with a transition-heavy surge keyed by sophomore Dillon Claussen and Jack Bachelor to regain control.
A 9-0 Washburn run late in the first half created separation, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Claussen and senior Brady Christiansen that pushed the margin to double digits.
Washburn closed the half on a 17-5 run overall and carried a 44-29 lead into the break after shooting 44 percent from the floor and forcing 10 Loper turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
Claussen opened with the second half with a three and senior Bryson Smith followed with a layup to ignite another push that ballooned the WU lead to 20 at 53-33 with 15:34 left.
Nebraska-Kearney countered with its best stretch of the afternoon, trimming the deficit to eight behind Ja'Bryant Hill and Clayton Moore during a 9-0 Loper run midway through the half.
But each time UNK threatened, Washburn responded.
Smith attacked the rim for consecutive scores, Bachelor knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and Claussen controlled the paint to steady the lead.
The Ichabods eventually built their largest cushion at 22 points with 2:46 remaining and closed out the win from the free throw line.
Claussen led four Ichabods in double figures with a career-high 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting, adding eight rebounds and two assists.
Smith finished with 19 points, 18 in the second half, while Bachelor added 17 points and six boards, and Christiansen chipped in six points and four rebounds.
Washburn women to put four-game win streak on the line at No. 5 Fort Hays State
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Payton Sterk is coming off a season-high 22-point performance in last Friday's 71-55 home win over Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]
Sterk scored a season-high 22 points in Friday's win over Missouri Western.
Talexa Weeter averages 27.9 points on 52.1-percent shooting overall and 42.9 percent from deep for Fort Hays State while also grabbing a team-high 9.1 rebounds per game. Weeter leads the nation in points per game, is second nationally in free throws made and is second in the conference in rebounding average.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods go on the road to face Fort Hays State
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team hits the road for a three-game stretch, beginning with Thursday's 7:30 p.m. MIAA tilt at Fort Hays State.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen and the 20-0 Washburn Ichabods will face Fort Hays State on the road Thursday night. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn, 20-0 overall and 10-0 in the MIAA, is one of just two remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II along with Cal State East Bay after the Ichabods beat Missouri Western 90-78 last Friday.
Fort Hays State is 15-4 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA, having won its last five in a row after turning back Central Oklahoma 58-53 last time out.
The Ichabods defeated the Tigers on Dec. 6 in Topeka, 73-66, with the 73 points a season-low for Washburn this season.
Washburn has the No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA with 89.2 points per game while the Ichabods have the No. 2-ranked scoring defense at 61.8 points per game behind Fort Hays State's 59.9 average.
The Tigers are averaging 71.6 points, ranking 13th in the MIAA.
FHSU is 9-1 in home games this season, with the lone loss coming on Nov. 16 to Concordia-St. Paul in a 78-68 defeat. Since then the Tigers have won their last eight home games in a row.
The Ichabods have recorded 32 20-win seasons in program history and six under Ichabod coach Brett Ballard in his nine seasons.
Washburn leads the nation in scoring margin at plus 27.4 points per game and is ranked first in field goal percentage at 52.8 percent and second in rebound margin at plus 12.2.
Washburn has not been out-rebounded in a game this season and has only been tied twice (Lubbock Christian and Emporia State).
Ichabod sophomore standout Dillon Claussen is sixth in the nation in field goal percentage at 65.9, which also leads the MIAA.
Junior Jeremiah Jones leads the nation in total steals with 66 and is ranked third in steals per game at 3.30 per contest.
Junior Jack Bachelor is 12th in the nation in assist to turnover ration at 3.14 to 1.
The Ichabods' 20-game winning streak is the longest in the nation, ahead of Cal St. East Bay's 18-game winning streak.
The 20-game winning streak by the Ichabods is the third-longest in program history.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods take control in OT to top Fort Hays State, 81-73
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods rallied to force overtime before pulling away in the extra frame for an 81-73 road win over Fort Hays State Thursday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum, improving to 21-0 overall and 11-0 in the MIAA.
Senior Brady Christiansen led a balanced Washburn attack with 18 points as the No. 1-ranked Ichabods improved to 21-0 with an 81-73 road win at Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"It's as good of a win as we've had since I've been here,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard told KTPK Radio. "We've had some good ones, but against that team, which we've got the utmost respect for, in this environment with that crowd... we didn't flinch, we didn't give in, kept battling, kept fighting and made some plays late when we needed it.
"Just a gutsy, gutsy win for us and I'll remember this one for a long time.''
Washburn led 47-46 with 10:31 to go in regulation before Fort Hays State (15-5, 7-4) went on a 12–3 run, taking a 58-50 lead with 5:13 to go.
Washburn trailed by six with 55 seconds to play before a Bryson Smith layup and a Jeremiah Jones steal and layup cut the Tigers' lead to 66-64 with 29 seconds to go.
The Tigers hit two more charity stripes with 20 seconds left, but again Smith scored on a drive with 14 seconds left.
Fort Hays State drew a foul with 13 seconds to play, leading by two, but missed both free throws, and after a Jones rebound, WU sophomore Dillon Claussen was fouled with 0.9 seconds to play, and he connected on both free throws, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Washburn outscored the Tigers 13–5, holding Fort Hays State without a field goal in overtime while converting 8 of 8 free throws and forcing a pair of turnovers.
Washburn trailed by one at 69-68, but had six points from Smith and five from Jack Bachelor, including a 3-pointer with 39 seconds to play, to push the Ichabod lead to four.
On the Tigers' ensuing possession, Jones swiped another ball and went the distance with a dunk as Washburn would lead 79-73 with 31 seconds left.
Smith wrapped up the scoring with two free throws with 22 seconds to play, sealing the win.
Senior Brady Christiansen led the Ichabods with 18 points going 10 of 12 from the free throw line and adding five rebounds.
Bachelor logged 42 minutes and finished with 17 points, three assists and two steals and Jones recorded his first double-double as an Ichabod with 14 points and 14 rebounds while adding four steals.
Smith tallied 16 points with six boards going 8 of 9 from the free throw line, while Claussen added nine points and seven rebounds.
No. 5 Fort Hays State uses big finish to take 59-47 win over Washburn women
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball remained within striking distance most of the way Thursday night, but weren't able to overcome a late run by No. 5-ranked Fort Hays State, falling 59-47 on the road.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah led Washburn with 12 points and nine rebounds in Thursday's MIAA loss at No. 5-ranked Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN]
With the win the Tigers snapped Washburn's four-game winning streak and avenged their only loss of the season, a 67-64 decision to Washburn on Dec. 6 in Lee Arena.
Washburn senior Yibari Nwidadah opened what would be a low-scoring first quarter with a layup at the 8:56 mark.
After a pair of ties, the Tigers (19-1 overall, 10-1 MIAA) stayed in front the rest of the way as both teams shot a combined 8-31 in the quarter. After ten minutes Washburn (14-6, 7-4) trailed 9-8.
The Ichabods continued to play catch-up to begin the second stanza. They were finally able to string together back-to-back buckets and lead 18-17 after Britany Kogbara got a basket to go with 4:23 left in the half.
Fort Hays State went back in front and led by two with 2:16 left. The hosts were held scoreless from that point on in the quarter as Ichabod senior Aniah Wayne tied the game at 24 heading into the half.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter the Tigers pushed the lead to four points at the 7:24 mark. They were held scoreless for the next four-plus minutes as Washburn was able to go in front on a Gabi Giovannetti 3-pointer at the 3:36 mark, the first 3-pointer of the game for the Ichabods.
Fort Hays State scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 36-33.
Washburn was able to tie the game up on an offensive rebound and putback by Nwidadah with 4:21 left in regulation, but the Tiger offense picked up the pace after that, scoring the next nine points in the game in just over two and a half minutes.
The lead was pushed into double figures as Fort Hays State pulled away for the 12-point win.
Ichabod softball opens 2026 season with five games in three days in Texas trip
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University opened its 56th season of softball on Friday as the Ichabods begin the 2026 season with five games over three days at the Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas, just south of Dallas.
Brenda Holaday's Washburn University softball team will open the 2026 season with five games over three days this weekend in Texas. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods are coming off a 31-21 season, going 13-11 in the MIAA, and will be looking to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season.
After practicing for several months, in the fall and since returning from the Christmas break, senior infielder Kate Ediger said it's time for the Ichabods to play a game.
"Oh my gosh, it is so time,'' Ediger said. "We have been practicing every day since we've been back in January and we've been scrimmaging and we're just so ready to go out there and play. We're just ready.''
After an up and down season a year ago, Ediger is confident that the Ichabods are poised to take a step forward this season.
"We have five pitchers this year who all are going to be very, very great for us,'' Ediger said. "Last year we had a couple of pitchers that had to do the job every game and this year we have more depth with our pitching and the chemistry that we have in our infield is there.
"I think that we have all the potential in the world. We have a lot of great people. We've just got to get out there and see what we can do, but I know that we're ready for it.''
Senior outfielder Erin Boles, a four-year player for the Ichabods, agreed.
"I think we're all very anxious to get on the field and play different competition and get that competitiveness,'' Boles said. "We're very eager.
"Our goal this year is to start off strong and carry that over into conference and postseason. That is what we're looking for this year.''
Washburn has reached the postseason six times, including three under coach Brenda Holaday in the 2018, 2022 and 2024 seasons.
The Ichabods have hit the 30-win mark for four straight seasons, dating back to the 2022 season, which is the longest streak of 30 wins since a run between the 2002-07 seasons when the Ichabods recorded 30 wins six seasons in a row.
Washburn was tabbed sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches poll.
Holaday is in her 10th season as the Ichabod softball head coach, recording a 283-170 overall record and going 136-74 in MIAA contests, leading the Ichabods to two MIAA regular-season titles (2018, 2022). Holaday became Washburn's all-time winningest coach with a 13-0 win over Illinois-Springfield on Feb. 8, 2025.
WU senior pitcher Sadie Walker was 36th in the nation last season in games started (28), 17th in appearances (35) and 39th in shutouts (5) while also ranking 55th in strikeouts (142).
Jenna Sprague ranked 10th in the nation with five saves.
Makenzie Sais led Washburn with 15 multiple-hit games last season.
The Ichabods are scheduled to face Texas Woman's and Southern Nazarene on Friday, Cameron on Saturday and Lubbock Christian and St. Edward's on Sunday.
A1 Lock & Key Performers Jan. 26, 2026
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dillon Claussen
DILLON CLAUSSEN, Washburn University
A 6-foot-8 sophomore basketball standout, Claussen scored 36 points on the week as No. 1-ranked Washburn improved to 20-0 with a pair of home double-digit MIAA victories. Claussen scored 18 points in Wednesday's 94-44 win over Northwest Missouri State, going 4 of 5 from the field and 10 of 10 from the free throw line. The Omaha, Neb. native also scored 18 points in Friday's 90-78 win over Missouri Western, hitting 7 of 10 shots from the floor and grabbing six rebounds.
Rylee Dick
RYLEE DICK, Rossville
Dick, a senior guard, scored a total of 58 points in three Rossville wins on the week as the Bulldawgs won the Jefferson County North Invitational girls basketball tournament. The Rockhurst signee had 27 points in a 60-22 first-round victory over JCN, scored 16 points in a 54-44 semifinal win over Perry-Lecompton and had 15 points in Friday's 59-51 championship game decision over Oskaloosa, moving into the No. 2 spot on Rossville's career scoring list with 1,310 points.
Jack Donovan
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville
A senior guard, Donovan scored 47 points in two Bulldawg victories on the week as Rossville basketball advanced to the championship game of the Valley Falls Invitational before the title game was postponed due to inclement weather. Donovan scored 13 points with three 3-pointers in a 63-54 win over Jefferson West and scored 34 points with six 3-pointers in a 64-29 semifinal victory over Christ Prep.
Washburn women to put three-game win streak on the line Friday against Griffons
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn women's basketball will host Missouri Western at 4 p.m. Friday in a game that was moved up a day to due to forecasted inclement weather. [File photo/TSN]No. 1-ranked Ichabods set to host Griffons in Friday night contest
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods men's basketball team will look for its 20th win of the season as the Ichabods play host to Missouri Western at 6 p.m. on Friday in Lee Arena in a game that has been moved up a day because of the weather forecast.
No. 1-ranked Washburn will be aiming for its 20th straight win in Friday's 6 p.m. MIAA home game against Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn enters the game with a 19-0 and is 9-0 in the MIAA, one of two remaining undefeated teams in Division II after topping Northwest Missouri by 50 in a 94-44 home win on Wednesday.
The Griffons are 13-7 overall and 5-4 in the conference after falling at Central Missouri 97-83 last time out.
The Ichabods defeated the Griffons on Jan. 7 in St. Joseph, 87-75.
Washburn is looking for its 32nd 20-win season in program history and their sixth under coach Brett Ballard in his ninth season on the Ichabod bench.
The Ichabods lead NCAA Division II in scoring margin at plus 28.2 points per game and are ranked third in field goal percentage at 52.3 percent.
WU is second in rebound margin (plus 12.7) and has not been out-rebounded in a game this season and has only been tied twice (Lubbock Christian and Emporia State).
The Ichabods' 19-game winning streak is the longest in D-II after Daemen lost on Jan. 21 to Gannon, ending its 20-game winning streak.
The 19-game winning streak by the Ichabods is tied for the fourth-longest in program history.
Washburn's 50-point Wednesday win over the Bearcats was the largest in the series history.
Junior Jeremiah Jones' nine steals tied the school record with Larry Farmer set vs. Friends on Nov. 26, 1996.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen paced Washburn with 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting night and a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line while junior Jack Bachelor added 14 points, including three 3-pointers.
Noah King averages a team-high 17.6 points for Missouri Western while Seaman product Ty Henry is scoring 11.5 points per game, Marko Pavlovic 11.4 and William Kiburis 10.4.
Friday's game will be the 110th between the two schools, with Washburn leading the series, 65-44.
Washburn has won the last five in the series and 10 of the last 13. However, each time the Griffons threatened, Washburn answered, keeping Western at arm's length.
Claussen led Washburn with 18 points in the earlier Ichabod win over the Griffons and eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Senior Sam Ungashick provided a big lift off the bench against Western with a season-high 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting and Bachelor added 16 points.
After Friday Washburn is back on the road for a three-game road trip starting at Fort Hays State on Jan. 29.
Washburn will then face Nebraska-Kearney on Jan. 31 and Central Missouri on Feb. 7 before returning home on Feb. 12 to host Arkansas-Fort Smith.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods record 20th straight win in 90-78 home win over Griffons
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball posted its 20th straight win to open the season Friday at Lee Arena, posting a 90-78 MIAA decision over Missouri Western.
Senior Sam Ungashick came off the bench to score 17 points for No. 1-ranked Washburn in Friday's 90-78 MIAA win over Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods used efficient shooting, balanced scoring and several timely runs to keep the Griffons at arm's length, improving to 20-0 overall and 10-0 in the conference.
And while Washburn coach Brett Ballard wasn't necessarily pleased with every aspect of Friday's win, he also knew it was solid enough to get the job done.
"We got up 22 there in the first half with about three minutes left and had a chance to kind of slam the door,'' Ballard said. "We didn't finish the half real well, so that was disappointing, and then we just never could never string together enough stops to put this thing away.
"But I've got to remind myself that we're so spoiled with the teams we've had here the last couple of years and how we've won a lot of these games. You crush a team on Wednesday (94-44 over Northwest Missouri) and I think sometimes you assume that's how it's going to go every time, but in this league that's just not the reality. You're going to have to grind through some of these and ultimately that will be good for us.''
Washburn weathered an early back-and-forth stretch that featured six ties and one lead change in the opening minutes before exploding offensively.
After Missouri Western (13-8, 5-5) briefly led 3–0, Washburn responded with a surge fueled by transition baskets and inside touches, eventually stretching the margin to as many as 22 points late in the first half.
Washburn turned a 42-30 lead with 5:34 to go in the first half into a 54-32 margin with 2:44 to play in the half after a 12-2 run.
However, Missouri Western closed the half on a 10-2 run, trimming the Washburn advantage back to 14 at 56-42.
The Ichabods shot a scorching 81.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from deep in the opening period, building the lead.
Missouri Western mounted multiple challenges in the second half, trimming the deficit into single digits midway through the period, but every run was answered by the Ichabods.
A sequence of interior buckets and fastbreak finishes helped Washburn stabilize the lead, and a late push pushed the margin back into double figures down the stretch.
The Ichabods finished with 25 fast-break points and 48 points in the paint, consistently beating the Griffons down the floor and attacking the rim.
Washburn placed eight players in the scoring column, with several delivering standout performances.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen led the way for the Ichabods with 18 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting night while adding six rebounds and four assists.
Senior Sam Ungashick provided a major spark off the bench, knocking down shots in transition and finishing with 17 points in 17 minutes on 7-of-9 shooting from the field while making his first six shots of the game.
Ungashick's top two scoring games of the season have both come against the Griffons as has his Washburn career-high.
"I think it might be a little bit of chance,'' Ungashick said. "But it's always a matchup game and all my guys are always instilling confidence in me and having faith in me to go out there and prove it.
"When you see those first couple go in it helps and when I hit the late stepback 3 (in the first half) that's kind of when I felt it was a good game for me.''
Washburn women avenge earlier loss to Griffons with fourth straight win, 71-55
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It was cold outside, but Washburn University women's basketball was hot from the start on Friday afternoon in Lee Arena, scoring 47 points in the first half to down Missouri Western 71-55 and earn a fourth straight win.
Washburn senior Payton Sterk (20) scored 20 of her game-high 22 points in Friday's 71-55 MIAA win over Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn improved to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in the MIAA while avenging an earlier loss to the Griffons (6-13, 2-8).
"I thought we did a really nice job in the first half with a lot of things we've been working on,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "We were solid defensively and stayed in front of the ball and I thought we got some really good looks offensively and weren't forcing.
"I thought our shot selection was great and a great team effort.''
It was the Griffons who took an early 9-7 lead with a pair of 3-pointers, but Washburn answered back with an 8-0 run, including five points from senior Payton Sterk, who had 20 in the first half.
"I think it definitely gets me going and gets the team going, too,'' Sterk said of her hot start.
The Ichabods shot 50.0 percent in the first quarter and ended the final minute on a 4-0 run to lead 21-14 after the opening quarter.
The Washburn run continued with the first four points in the second quarter, pushing the lead to double figures. A quick 5-0 burst was capped off by a 3-pointer from senior Gabi Giovannetti that pushed the lead up over 20 points.
While Washburn shot over 50.0 percent again in the second stanza, Missouri Western was held to just 2 of 8 shooting in the frame as the Ichabods built a 47-24 lead.
Out of the break Washburn's offense cooled off as they were held scoreless until junior Kellyn Hunter knocked down a jumper with 4:24 left in the quarter. She hit another shot to push the lead back over 20 points the next possession.
The Ichabod defense helped maintain the lead, with the Griffons hitting just 4 of 11 shots in the quarter.
The Griffons' offense picked up in the fourth quarter, scoring the first 10 points to make it a single-digit game with 6:38 remaining.
But Ichabod junior Britany Kogbara got a pair of shots to fall over the next few possessions to push the lead back into double digits. Missouri Western knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:06 remaining, but that was the last time it would get on the scoreboard as the Ichabods finished the game on a 6-0 run to put away a 16-point win.
The hot start helped Washburn shoot 40.7 percent for the game along with 8 of 17 (47.1) attempts from 3-point range. The Ichabods were also 19 of 22 at the free throw line.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods limit Bearcats to 44 points in 50-point MIAA rout
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball scored 94 points Wednesday night against Northwest Missouri State, had four players crack double figures and shot 54.4 percent from the field.
But it was the Ichabods' defense that stole the show as Washburn improved to 19-0 overall and 9-0 in the MIAA with a 94-44 home MIAA win over the Bearcats in Lee Arena.
Junior Jeremiah Jones tied a Washburn school record with nine steals in Wednesday's 94-44 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Jeremiah Jones tied a school record with nine steals, seven in the first half, while the Ichabods limited Northwest Missouri (9-11, 2-7) to a meager 14 first-half points as Washburn took command, 40-14.
"Defense was great,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "I think JJ had more steals in this game than I had in my entire college career. He was great and I thought we were really connected on that end.
"I thought we did a good job of keeping everything in front and really challenging everything. Just really a team effort and we forced a lot of turnovers (26) as well. From the last time we played them we definitely played a better, more complete game.''
"We came out and we knew if we pressured them early and we trapped them and we contained the ball and kept them out of the paint we knew they weren't going to be able to score,'' Jones said. "Their point guard, No. 4 (Royce Williams) is really, really good and me putting pressure on him throughout the whole game and taking him out of his game, he wasn't confident at all.''
The Ichabods controlled the game from the opening tip and never looked back en route to its 24th straight win at home, tying for the second-longest streak in program history, and Washburn now owns the longest winning streak in the nation at 19 with Daemen's 79-61 loss to Gannon.
Washburn jumped out to a 20-8 lead at the midway point of the first half and would turn a 24-12 advantage into a 26-point halftime lead, closing the final seven minutes of the half on an 18-2 run while holding the Bearcats to one of 10 shooting, including zero of seven from 3-point range.
Overall, the Ichabods shot 50 percent (15 of 30) in the opening half while the Bearcats were limited to six of 24 from the field.
In the second half, Washburn doubled up the Bearcats at 56-28 with 13:38 to go and then went on a 20-3 run over the next 5:06 of the game, moving the lead to 74-31 with 8:53 to play.
From that point on, the Ichabods outscored Northwest Missouri 20-13, rolling to the 50-point win.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored a game-high 18 points, going 10 of 10 at the free throw line, in Wednesday's 94-44 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Dillon Claussen paced Washburn with a game-high 18 points on a 4-of-5 shooting night from the field while going a perfect 10 for 10 at the free-throw line.
Washburn women ride defense to third straight win, 45-38 over Bearcats
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball didn't have a great offensive night Wednesday against Northwest Missouri, shooting 31.5 percent while scoring just 45 points.
But thanks to an outstanding defensive effort, that was enough for the Ichabods to stretch their winning streak to three games with a 45-38 MIAA win over the Bearcats at Lee Arena.
Senior Payton Sterk scored a game-high 16 points in Wednesday's 45-38 Washburn home MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I think that's a credit to both teams,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said of the low-scoring contest. "Both teams are just not going to give you what you want. We both have a couple of things we do really well and we're both not going to give it to the other one, so you just hope that you get enough breaks and enough toughness plays to find a way and that's why I'm proud of my players because they did tonight.''
Playing at home for the first time in almost two weeks, Washburn improved to 13-5 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA while avenging an earlier double-overtime loss to Northwest.
"You don't ever want to get swept in league and they're a good team and they're going to get some people, so we really needed to get this one back to make sure we didn't get swept and we're thankful for home court,'' Westling said.
Washburn trailed Northwest Missouri (10-9, 3-6) 16-9 at the end of the opening quarter.
The Bearcats still held a 21-15 advantage with 6:27 left in the opening half, but the Ichabods held Northwest scorelss for the remainder of the second quarter and finished the half on a 9-0 run to take a 24-21 lead into the locker room at the break.
Northwest Missouri scored five points in the first two minutes of the second half to go in front, but were held to just four points the rest of the quarter.
A pair of jumpers by senior Payton Sterk put Washburn in front by four points before the Bearcats scored the final four to tie the game at 30 going to the fourth.
A pair of 3-pointers from seniors Aniah Wayne and Gavi Giovannetti opened the fourth quarter for Washburn, with the second trey putting the Ichabods in front, 36-35.
Northwest Missouri knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 38 with 5:51 left but once again the Bearcats were held scoreless for more than five minutes.
Sterk knocked down what would be the go-ahead bucket with 3:18 remaining to start a 7-0 finish that finished off Washburn's seven-point win.
Washburn won despite shooting hitting just 17 of 54 shots from the floor and 3 of 10 attempts from 3-point range as the Ichabod defense limited the Bearcats to 27.5 percent shooting while going 5 of 19 from behind the arc.
Rebounding also went in favor of the Ichabods, 42-33, while Washburn held the visitors to zero fast break points and just five second-chance points.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah recorded a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds in Wednesday's 45-38 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Ichabod senior Yibari Nwidadah tied her career-high with 16 rebounds while scoring 13 points.
"I just go into pursuit,'' Nwidadah said of her big rebounding night. "I feel like we had really great perimeter defense and not letting their two shooters get hot. Their shots created long rebounds so I was just going to get it.
"We learned from (the earlier loss) and we executed better and that was our goal. We talk a lot about holding teams under 60, so we did a really good job there, and we take pride (in defense) because it fuels our offense. We just put a lot of energy into our defense.''
Sterk scored a game-high 16 points on seven of 13 shooting from the field.
Normally a shooting guard, Sterk saw a lot of time Wednesday night running the WU offense from the point guard position.
"Good for Payton for stepping up,'' Westling said. "She just wants to win. That's the thing about Payton, she'd play post if I asked her to.''
Sterk said she played the point earlier in her career, so Wednesday's stint wasn't completely foreign for her.
"I haven't done it in awhile, but it was good,'' Sterk said. "It's a little nerve-wracking at first once I get back into it, but it seemed to work.''
WU women's basketball returns to Lee Arena Wednesday after long road trip
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Lora Westling's Washburn women's basketball team returns home Thursday after a four-game road trip. [File photo/TSN]Washburn, 12-5 overall, 5-3 in the MIAA after a 69-55 win at Newman on Saturday, will be looking to avenge a 65-61 double-overtime loss to the Bearcats 11 days ago.
Northwest Missouri State is 10-8 overall and 3-5 in the conference after a 60-46 loss to No. 6-ranked Fort Hays State last time out at home.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah is averaging a team-high 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Ichabods while also shooting a team-high 57.9 percent from the floor.
With 274 career offensive rebounds Nwidadah is third in program history and she ranks sixth in overall rebounding with 745 career boards. Her career field goal percentage of .580 is the second best in program history and Nwidadah ranks 13th among all Ichabods with 1,203 career points.
Senior Payton Sterk is averaging 11.4 points and has hit a team-high 28 3-pointers for Washburn while senior Gabi Giovannetti averages 11.1 points with 26 3-pointers. She also averages a team-high 1.8 steals.
Giovannetti led Washburn with 19 points in the earlier loss to Northwest.
Senior Aniah Wayne has come off the bench in every game this season, playing 19.6 minutes per game and averaging 6.3 points. Wayne is coming off a big week last week, scoring 17 points in the Ichabods' Thursday night win at Emporia State and 13 points with four 3-pointers in Saturday's win over Newman.
Ichabod junior Kellyn Hunter also scored 13 points off the bench against the Jets, her Washburn career high.
Andrea Lopreato leads Northwest in scoring at 12.7 points per game on 36.5 percent shooting while also leading the Bearcats with 1.6 steals per game and averaging 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Bailey Birmingham is averaging 10.8 points while hitting a team-high 42 3-pointers.
Washburn has a 63-16 advantage in the all-time series with Northwest.
The Ichabods are 35-5 against the Bearcats in Topeka.
Washburn will host Missouri Western at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Ichabods dropped a 75-67 loss at Western in the first game of the Ichabods' recent road trip.
No. 1-ranked Washburn men back in Lee Arena Wednesday to host Northwest Missouri
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1-ranked Washburn men's basketball will be looking for its 19th straight win Wednesday night against Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]The Bearcats, 9-10 overall and 2-6 in the MIAA, are fighting a four-game losing streak. Northwest lost 66-50 to Fort Hays State last time out.
The Ichabods have the No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA, putting up 88.8 points per game, and Washburn has the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the conference, allowing 61.9 points per game.
Washburn has not been out-rebounded in a game this season and has only been tied twice (Lubbock Christian and Emporia State).
Sophomore Dillon Claussen is sixth in the nation in field goal percentage at 66.2 which leads the MIAA.
Junior Jack Bachelor is fourth in the nation in assist to turnover ratio at 3.33 to 1.
The Ichabods' 18-game winning streak is second in the nation behind Daemen, which has won its last 20 games.
The Ichabods' 18-game winning streak is the fifth-longest in program history and Washburn's 23-game homecourt winning streak is tied for second in the nation.
Bachelor tied a career-high with nine field goals en route to a 23-point game against Newman while sophomore Marcus Glock recorded his Washburn best with 21 points and sophomore Tyson Ruud scored a career-high 17points in his first career start.
A1 Lock & Key Performers Jan. 19, 2026
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KaeVon Bonner
KAEVON BONNER, Seaman
Bonner, a 6-foot-4 senior, had another big week as Seaman boys basketball improved to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the United Kansas Conference with a pair of victories. Bonner scored 28 points on Tuesday as the Vikings avenged their only loss of the season in a 57-52 win at Topeka West and scored 24 points on 9 of 10 shooting in Friday's 72-50 home win over Leavenworth. Bonner is averaging 30.25 points over his past four games.
Koralee Jones
KORALEE JONES, Highland Park
Jones, a senior, recorded what Highland Park officials have been told is the first quadruple-double in Kansas girls basketball history in last Tuesday's 68-10 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Sumner Academy. Jones scored 22 points with 13 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals for the Scots.
JoJo Kingcannon
JOJO KINGCANNON, Highland Park
A junior basketball standout, Kingcannon scored a total 57 points in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday, including a career-high 35 points in Friday's 80-43 home Meadowlark Conference win over Kansas City-Harmon as he hit 14 of 16 shots with four 3-pointers. On Thursday Kingcannon scored 22 points in the Scots' 76-53 loss at city rival Shawnee Heights.
Washburn women ground Jets with dominant fourth quarter, 69-55
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Aniah Wayne (24) had 13 points and four 3-pointers in Saturday's MIAA 69-55 win at Newman. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Kellyn Hunter tied for game-high scoring honors with a Washburn career-high 13 points in Saturday's 69-55 MIAA win over Newman. [File photo/TSN]The Jets, 7-10 overall, 1-7 MIAA, jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the first five minutes, but Washburn (12-5, 5-3) came back to tie the game at 10 on a triple by senior Aniah Wayne.
Wayne's 3 was part of an 18-4 end to the first quarter, highlighted by three 3-pointers from Wayne to build a 22-14 lead.
A 5-0 run by senior Yibari Nwidadah to begin the second quarter pushed the Washburn lead up to 13 points.
But Newman answered right back with a 7-0 run of its own. The Ichabod offense slowed down in the final five minutes of the quarter, shooting just 4 of 12 in the quarter.
Four 3-pointers by the Jets helped make it a tight 35-31 WU lead going into the break.
Coming out of the break Newman continued to chip away at the lead before going in front at 40-38 with 6:00 remaining in the third.
Washburn came back to score the next seven points to lead 45-40 after a steal and score by junior Kellyn Hunter.
A score late by the Jets would cut the deficit down to one after a low-scoring quarter for both teams going into the fourth.
The Ichabod defense went up a level in the fourth, holding Newman without a point until the 5:55 mark and to 4 of 14 shooting overall.
Washburn started the final quarter on a 6-0 run but still the Jets wouldn't go away.
After taking the lid off the basket the Jets scored six in a row to make it 54-53 WU with 3:36 remaining.
Another triple by Wayne with 1:56 left put the visitors up by six and started an 11-0 run in the final two minutes to help Washburn win going away, 69-55.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods roll to 107-74 win over Jets, improve to 18-0
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball wrapped up a four-game road trip with a dominating wire-to-wire 107–74 MIAA victory over Newman on Saturday in Wichita.
Washburn junior Jack Bachelor scored 23 points in Saturday's 107-74 MIAA road win at Newman. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods, who improved to 18-0 and 8-0 in the MIAA, set the tone immediately Saturday, jumping out to an 11-2 lead with junior Jack Bachelor scoring seven points in the early going and pacing the Ichabods in the 33-point win.
Offensively, Washburn shot 58.9 percent from the field (43 of 73) while hitting 50 percent of its shots from 3-point range (12 of 24) and knocking down 75 percent of its free throw attempts (9 of 12).
The Ichabods also dominated the paint with 58 points, added 19 fast-break points and 19 second-chance points.
Bachelor scored a game-high 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting, including a 5 of 7 performance from beyond the 3-point arc.
The former Washburn Rural star, who added four assists and three steals, connected on his first five 3-pointers in the game.
Sophomore Marcus Glock followed with a Washburn career-high 21 points, scoring 16 in the opening half, hitting four 3-pointers and going a perfect 3 for 3 at the line.
Sophomore Tyson Ruud slams home a dunk in Washburn's 107-74 MIAA win at Newman on Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Making his first start as an Ichabod, sophomore Tyson Ruud scored a career-high 17 points with eight rebounds and junior Jeremiah Jones chipped in 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting.
Freshman Amalachi Wilkins provided a spark off the bench with 11 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored seven points and had a career-high seven assists, while adding four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Newman shot 47.5 percent overall and 40.9 percent from three while turning the ball over 19 times, leading to 29 Ichabod points.
Washburn also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Jets (5-12, 1-7) by a 36-24 margin.
Washburn returns to Lee Arena on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. MIAA tilt with Northwest Missouri.
Washburn golf adds Andrew Beckler to staff as assistant coach
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Andrew Beckler has been named an assistant coach for Washburn University golf for the remainder of the 2026 season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]No. 1-ranked Washburn men put 16-0 record on the line in ESU rematch
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1 nationally-ranked Washburn University men's basketball will put its perfect 16-0 record on the line Thursday in a 7:30 p.m. MIAA road game against Emporia State in White Auditorium.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen leads 16-0 Washburn with 16.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game entering Thursday's MIAA game at Emporia State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods, 6-0 in the MIAA, will be facing the Hornets for the second time in 12 days after taking a 91-66 win over Emporia State on Jan. 3 in Lee Arena.
The Hornets are 5-10 this season and 1-5 in the MIAA after recording an 82-79 win over Nebraska-Kearney last Saturday.
The Hornets are 3-3 in home games this season.
Washburn has not been out-rebounded in a game and has only been tied twice (Lubbock Christian and Emporia State).
Washburn women snap two-game skid at Emporia State, 63-52
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Aniah Wayne came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points in Thursday's 63-52 Washburn road win over Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]That would be the last points of the quarter for Emporia State as it was held to 33.3 percent shooting in the quarter while the Ichabods built a 14-10 lead.
The first points for either team in the second quarter came from WU sophomore Brooke Gomez with 6:44 to play in the half.
Wayne knocked down a 3-pointer shortly after that, pushing the Ichabod advantage to nine. Washburn shot over 50 percent in the quarter to take a 28-21 advantage into the halftime break.
Out of the half Wayne hit a layup at the 7:39 mark to give Washburn a double-figure lead for the first time in the game. The Lady Hornets reduced their deficit to eight before the Ichabods answered with a 8-0 run, started by a basket from senior Yibari Nwidadah.
The lead remained at 16 with a last-second layup from junior Britany Kogbara to end the third quarter.
Neither team scored for the first 3:36 of the fourth until Nwidadah hit another layup that began a 7-0 run to start the quarter and push the Washburn lead to more than 20.
The Lady Hornets never got within single-digits the rest of the way as Washburn completed the regular-season series sweep.
Washburn shooting 42.6 percent overall while going 3 of 10 from 3-point range. On the other end Emporia State was held to 32.3 percent shooting and just 3 of 6 at the free throw line while WU went 8 of 16 at the stripe.
"We know we've got to hang our hat on (defense),'' Westling said. "We know we can guard. We had a couple of lapses, but for the most part we've got to continue to be one of the top defensive teams in the league.''
The rebounding battle was won 45-34 by the Ichabods, leading to a 44-22 advantage in paint scoring.
Led by Wayne, Washburn's bench provided 36 points to 25 for the Lady Hornet reserves.
Washburn senior Yibari Nwidadah scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Thursday's 63-52 road win over Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Nwidadah backed Wayne with 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting with seven rebounds. Senior Gabi Giovannetti had a team-high 10 boards along with three steals and three assists.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods hold off Emporia State, improve to 17-0
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Thursday's 75-64 MIAA road win over Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Bryson Smith scored 12 points and hit four straight free throws in the final seconds as Washburn improved to 17-0 Thursday night at Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]WU women drop 65-61 double overtime heartbreaker to Northwest
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the first time since Jan. 5, 2019 Washburn University women's basketball went to double overtime on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 65-61 decision at Northwest Missouri.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti scored a game-high 19 points in Saturday's 65-61 Washburn double-overtime loss at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
After rallying late in regulation to force overtime the Ichabods came up short in the second OT, dropping a four-point decision to the Bearcats.
In the opening minutes Washburn, 10-5 overall, 3-3 MIAA, was in control, leading 8-3 at the 5:27 mark after senior Gabi Giovannetti scored her second basket of the game.
The lead stayed at six inside the final two minutes of the quarter as the Bearcats were held to 1 of 12 shooting to begin the game. The home team finished on a 4-0 run and it was a 10-8 lead for the Ichabods after one.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams in the second quarter.
Washburn was held scoreless until a hoop by junior Britany Kogbara at the 4:34 mark. Both teams managed just one field goal as they combined for nine points in the quarter. The Ichabods went into the break still in front, leading 14-13.
With 7:50 remaining in the third quarter, Washburn junior Madelyn Amekporfor hit the first 3-pointer in the game for either team.
A pair of free throws by sophomore Brooke Gomez pushed the WU lead up to six points, but in the final minutes of the quarter Northwest Missouri flipped a three-point deficit into a five-point lead, going in front 33-28 after three.
After the opening minutes of the fourth quarter the Bearcats pushed the lead to nine points with 5:15 remaining.
Washburn answered with a 12-0 run across the next four minutes, with half of the points coming from Giovannetti.
Northwest Missouri scored four in a row to go in front by one. Giovannetti got a free throw to go in the final 10 seconds of regulation to tie the game back up and send it to overtime.
In the first extra period the Ichabods built the largest lead by either side at four points after senior Payton Sterk got a layup to go with 3:26 remaining.
The Washburn offense went cold over the last three minutes of overtime as the Bearcats scored four to tie it back up. Both sides had multiple stops inside the final minute to send the game to a second overtime tied at 53.
The lead continued to trade hands in the opening minutes of the second overtime.
Giovannetti hit a layup to put the Ichabods in front 59-58 with 1:12 remaining.
Northwest Missouri answered right back with a 3-pointer in the final minute that would put it in front for good. The home team went 4-4 at the free throw line to hold off the Ichabods.
No. 1-ranked Washburn men improve to 16-0 with 76-53 win at Northwest
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Bryson Smith led Washburn with 16 points Saturday as the Ichabods improved to 16-0 on the season. [File photo/TSN]WU women looking to get back on track at Emporia State
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season, Washburn women's basketball will be looking to get back on track in Thursday's 5:30 p.m. MIAA road game against Emporia State in White Auditorium.
Washburn senior Yibari Nwidadah (middle) will be looking for her fourth straight double-double in Thursday's road game at Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will be facing the Hornets in the second edition of the Turnpike Tussle after taking a 86-59 home win over Emporia State on Jan. 3 in Lee Arena.
Washburn is 10-5 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA after a 65-61 double-overtime loss at Northwest Missouri last Saturday while Emporia State improved to 8-7 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA after defeating Nebraska Kearney 82-78 last time out.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah averages team-highs of 13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 58.7 percent shooting from the floor for the Ichabods while registering double-doubles in three straight games, including 13 points and 14 rebounds at Northwest.
With 271 career offensive rebounds, Nwidadah ranks third in program history and she is eighth with 732 total boards. Her career field goal percentage of .582 is the second best in program history. In scoring she ranks 13th with 1,179 career points. Nwidadah is also 11th in program history with 69 career blocked shots.
Senior Payton Sterk is second for Washburn with a 12.2 scoring average on while hitting a team-high 28 3-pointers.
Sterk scored a game-high 21 points for Washburn in the earlier meeting with Emporia State with five 3-pointers while Nwidadah had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti is averaging 12.1 points with 26 3-pointers while shooting a team-high 41.3 percent from deep. Giovannetti leads the Ichabods with 1.9 steals per game.
Giovannetti is eighth in program history with 138 career 3-pointers made and scored a game-high 19 points on 8 of 15 shooting with four steals and five rebounds at Northwest Missouri.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti scored a game-high 19 points in last Saturday's 65-61 Washburn double-overtime loss at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
The Lady Hornets have gone 7-1 inside of White Auditorium, are 1-4 on the road and 0-2 in neutral court games.
Washburn women looking to get back on track Saturday at Northwest
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn senior Yibari Nwidadah recorded a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds in Thursday's loss to Missouri Western, Nwidadah's second straight double-double. [File photo/TSN]Washburn, now 10-4 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA, had its four-game winning streak snapped in Wednesday's 75-67 road loss to Missouri Western, while Northwest Missouri, which has dropped three straight games, is 9-6 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA after a 66-61 loss to Central Missouri.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah, who had 23 points and 13 rebounds against the Griffons, averages a team-high 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Ichabods while shooting 58.5 percent from the floor, which also leads the team.
With 266 career offensive rebounds Nwidadah ranks third in program history and ranks eighth in overall rebounding with 718 career boards. Nwidadah's career field goal percentage of .581 is the second best in program history and she is 13th in school history with 1,166 career points and 11th in program history with 69 career blocked shots.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods to put 15-0 record on the line Saturday at Northwest Missouri
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball continues its four-game road trip on Saturday, traveling to Northwest Missouri for a 3:30 p.m. contest.
Washburn, 15-0 overall and 5-0 in the MIAA, is one of four remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II after starting the trip with an 87-75 win at Missouri Western on Wednesday.
Dillon Claussen, Washburn University
The Bearcats are 9-7 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA after falling at home to Central Missouri last time out, 76-72.
The Ichabods have the No. 2-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA (89.4 points per game) and the No. 2-ranked scoring defense (61.5-point average).
Washburn leads NCAA Division II in scoring margin at plus 27.9 points per game and is fifth in field goal percentage at 51.9 percent.
Washburn has not been out-rebounded in a game and has only been tied twice (Lubbock Christian and Emporia State).
Junior Jeremiah Jones is first the nation in total steals with 50 and is ranked second in steals per game at 3.33.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen is fifth in the nation in field goal percentage at 66.9.
Ichabod sophomore Marcus Glock played his freshman season at Northwest Missouri where he started 19 of 28 games, averaging 9.1 points while hitting a team-high 51 3-pointers and averaging 13.5 points in two games against Washburn.
Junior Jack Bachelor is 17th in the nation in total assists with 75 and second in assist to turnover ration at 3.57 to 1.
Claussen scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half in Wednesday's win over Missouri Western, going 6 of 10 for the game and adding eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Senior Sam Ungashick provided a big lift off the bench with a season-high 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting and Bachelor added 16 points and senior Brady Christiansen contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Ichabods' 15-game winning streak is second in the nation behind Daemen, which has won its last 16.
No. 1-ranked Ichabods start four-game road trip at Western
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn junior Jeremiah Jones scored 20 points with four 3-pointers, 4 assists and 4 steals in last Saturday's 91-66 win over Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored 16 points with 4 steals and 3 blocks in Saturday's 91-66 win over Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Jack Bachelor scored 16 points with four 3-pointers and nine assists in last Saturday's 91-66 win over Emporia State. [File photo/TSN] Washburn women put four-game win streak on the line against Griffons
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Payton Sterk scored 21 points and hit 5 of 7 3-pointers in last Saturday's 86-59 MIAA win over Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]Senior Yibari Nwidadah recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds in last Saturday's win over Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]No. 1-ranked Ichabods improve to 15-0 with 87-75 road win at Missouri Western
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 1-ranked Washburn University men's basketball remained perfect on the season Wednesday night with an 87–75 road win at Missouri Western, improving to 15-0 overall and 5-0 in the MIAA.
Senior Sam Ungashick came off the bench to score 18 points in Wednesday's 87-75 MIAA road win over Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods never trailed, building a commanding 48-29 first-half lead, and then withstood a second-half push by the Griffons to secure the victory.
Washburn shot a scorching 65.5 percent from the floor in the opening half (19 of 29) and knocked down 4 of 9 attempts from 3-point range while scoring 48 first-half points.
Missouri Western, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm early, shooting just 25.0 percent (8 of 32) in the first half.
Missouri Western (11-5 overall, 3-2 MIAA) played its best basketball after halftime, shooting 53.3 percent in the second half and outscoring Washburn 46-39 over the final 20 minutes while dropping to 6-1 in home games this season.
The Griffons trimmed the Ichabod advantage into the mid-teens on multiple occasions.
However, each time the Griffons threatened, Washburn answered, keeping Western at arm's length.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half, going 6 of 10 from the field for the game while adding eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Senior Sam Ungashick provided a big lift off the bench with a season-high 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting and junior Jack Bachelor added 16 points while senior Brady Christiansen contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, helping Washburn win the rebounding battle, 42–24.
As a team, Washburn finished the night shooting 56.4 percent from the field (31 of 55), 33.3 percent from 3-point range (7 of 21) and 72.0 percent at the free-throw line (18 of 25). Missouri Western shot 38.7 percent overall and just 21.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Washburn returns to the road on Saturday, continuing its four-game road trip at Northwest Missouri (3:30 p.m. start).
Wednesday's win was the fifth in a row by the Ichabods over the Griffons while improving to 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
Griffons snap Washburn women's four-game win streak, 75-67
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After a blistering start Wednesday night Washburn saw its four-game winning streak snapped, with the Ichabods falling 75-67 at Missouri Western.
Yibari Nwidadah scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Wednesday's 75-67 MIAA road loss at Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods return to action on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. facing Northwest Missouri in Maryville, Mo.
The game opened quickly for Washburn (10-4 overall, 3-2 MIAA) with a 7-2 run in the first 72 seconds after senior Payton Sterk hit a jumper.
The Griffons (5-9, 1-4) battled back and would go in front 9-7 before extending the lead to eight points after a 9-0 run.
The Ichabods answered with a run of their own in a high-scoring first quarter as sophomore Brooke Gomez and senior Aniah Wayne both knocked down 3-pointers before going in front on a 3-pointer by senior Gabi Giovannetti. Shooting 52.6 percent from the floor and 4-7 from deep the Ichabods led 28-26 after the first quarter.
After scores from Sterk and senior Yibari Nwidadah to open the second quarter Washburn remained in front by two, but the next 10 points came from Missouri Western to go in front by eight.
The Ichabods went into the break trailing by six at 44-38 after Nwidadah scored the final six points of the half for Washburn in a quarter that saw them shoot 2-10 from the field.
The Griffon offense stayed hot out of halftime, pushing the lead into double figures and up to as high as 15 points at 55-40 at the 6:02 mark.
Washburn worked to chip away at the lead, with Nwidadah getting it into single digits on a layup with 1:01 left in the third quarter. Missouri Western pushed it's advantage back out to 11 and led 63-52 going into the fourth.
Twice early in the fourth the Ichabods shrunk the deficit back down to nine but both times the Griffons answered with baskets.
Washburn got to the line and shot 9-10 in the final frame but were held to just 3-13 shooting in the quarter and 0-4 from deep. The Ichabods scored the final six points of the game to cut its final deficit to eight.
