By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University men's basketball team will finish off its home slate at 7:30 p.m. Thursday as it hosts a Senior Night contest against Missouri Southern in Lee Arena.
Seniors Tyler Nelson and Connor Deffebaugh will be honored Thursday night as part of Washburn's Senior Night festivities. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athle
Seniors Tyler Nelson and Connor Deffebaugh will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
The Ichabods are 13-13 overall and 10-10 in the MIAA after a 65-53 win over Central Missouri last Saturday.
Missouri Southern (16-10, 12-8) is coming off an 84-70 loss at Fort Hays State in their home finale last Saturday.
The Lions won the first meeting of the season against the Ichabods on Jan. 12 in Joplin, taking a 70-50 win.
Sophomore Andrew Orr leads the Ichabods with a 13.7 scoring average while averaging 14.3 points in MIAA contests. He is third on the team in rebounds at 5.6 per game, is third in the MIAA in field goal percentage at 60 percent and has hit double-figure scoring in nine of his last 10 games.
Nelson is averaging 11.6 points and has reached double digits in his 10 of his last 13 games, averaging 14.3 points.
Levi Braun is scoring 9.3 points per game and has hit 58 of 132 3-pointers (44 percent). Of his 78 field goals this season, 58 have been from 3-point range.
Freshman Brady Christiansen is averaging 5.4 points while adding 6.8 rebounds per game, which leads the team.
The Lions have three players averaging double figures, led by Winston Dessesow at 12 points per game. Vinson Sigmon Jr. averages 12.1 points and Avery Taggart 12.0.
Washburn will end the regular season at Emporia State on Saturday.
WU women set to host Lions
Washburn women's basketball embarks on the final week of the regular season, starting with Thursday's Senior Night contest against Missouri Southern in Lee Arena.
Washburn women's basketball will honor seniors Abby Oliver, Emma Chapman and Macy Doebele during Senior Night festivities Thursday night in Lee Arena. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics}
The Ichabods will honor seniors Emma Chapman, Macy Doebele and Abby Oliver prior to the 5:30 p.m. contest.
Washburn is 11-15 overall and 7-13 in the MIAA after a 78-54 loss at No. 12-ranked Central Missouri last Saturday.
Missouri Southern is 22-6, 14-6 MIAA after a 61-58 win at Fort Hays State.
Missouri Southern defeated Washburn in Joplin earlier this season, 61-45.
In that game, the Ichabods led for 13 minutes of the first half and went into the break with the score tied, but the Ichabod offense made just five field goals in the second half while Missouri Southern made 16 baskets en route to the win.
The Ichabods are tied for ninth in the MIAA standings and the Lions have clinched a place in the MIAA Tournament at fifth in the standings. The top 10 teams in the conference standings at the end of the week will advance to the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. March 1-5.
Junior point guard Aubree Dewey leads the Ichabods in scoring (10.5 points per game), assists (3.6), steals (1.3), and minutes played (33.9).
Dewey notched her 13th double-figure scoring game last Saturday with 10 points against the Jennies.
Freshman Natalia Figueroa did not play in either of WU's two games last week due to injury. In 24 games Figueroa has averaged 8.6 points and 3.0 rebounds and has made a team-best 41 3-pointers.
Doebele averages 7.8 points to go with 4.6 erbounds per game. She leads the squad in free throws, making 82 of 104 for a 78.8 percentage.
Chapman averages 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while freshman cente Yibari Nwidadah leads the Ichabods with 5.9 rebounds and averages 6.9 points with a 54.4 field goal percentage.
Freshman Gabi Artis led Washburn in scoring in both games last week, scoring 16 at Lincoln and 14 at Central Missouri. For the season, Artis averages 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Missouri Southern got back in the win column last time out after consecutive losses to Pittsburg State and then-ranked No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney.
The 2021-22 MIAA freshman and player of the year Lacy Stokes has continued to lead Missouri Southern in her second collegiate season, averaging 16.0 points with 76 steals while leading the league in assists (149).
Kryslyn Jones averages 10.4 points and leads the Southern with 48-pointers.
Washburn is set for the regular season finale at Emporia State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
