By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball will play its first road game of the season on Monday, opening MIAA play with a 5:30 p.m. tilt at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.
The Ichabods posted a 12-point victory over Haskell Indian Nations University on Wednesday to improve to 3-2 on the young season. Northeastern State defeated Haskell, 81-58, on Friday and is now 3-1.
Junior Aubree Dewey (3) leads 3-2 Washburn with a 9.8 scoring average and 3.4 assists per game entering Monday's MIAA opener at Northeastern State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Freshman Natalia Figueroa, a native of Madrid, Spain, is averaging 8.8 points for Washburn, including 13 points in last Wednesday's 63-51 win over Haskell. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
This is NSU's best start to the season since 2017-18 when it also began the season 3-1.
Washburn swept the regular-season series last year against Northeastern State, winning 61-50 at NSU and then picking up a 71-49 decision at Lee Arena.
The Riverhawks were 7-21 (5-17 MIAA) last season while Washburn was 14-16 (11-11 MIAA).
In this season's MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll, Washburn was picked 10th and Northeastern State 12th.
Junior Aubree Dewey leads the Ichabods with a 9.8 scoring average to go with a 41.7 field goal percentage, 4.0 rebounds per game and a team-high 3.4 assists per game.
Freshman Natalia Figueroa averages 8.8 points and is coming off a 13-point game against Haskell.
Mackenzie Gamble also averages 8.8 points and has made a team-high 12 three-pointers.
Macy Doebele averages a team-high 7.2 rebounds for the Ichabods and tied a career-high with 12 rebounds against Haskell.
Sophomore Ashton Hackler leads the RiverHawks with a 20.0 scoring average while sophomore Courtney Lee averages 18.0 points and 8.3 rebounds.
After Monday's brief road trip, Washburn returns to Lee Arena to continue MIAA play Saturday, hosting to rival Emporia State in a 1 p.m. contest.
