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TOPEKA — Washburn women’s basketball begins its postseason journey on Friday, March 6. The Ichabds are the No. 3 seed in the MIAA Tournament. They will face No. 6 Pittsburg State at 2:15 p.m. inside Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City.
Washburn (21-7, 14-5 in the MIAA) enters the conference tournament ranked No. 6 in the final NCAA Central Region rankings. The top eight teams will make the NCAA Tournament next week. A strong showing in the MIAA Tournament will solidify a spot in the national tournament for Washburn.
The Ichabods last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2013.
Sports: How Lou Holtz's impact on Benedictine College went far beyond football
Washburn closed the regular season on a six-game winning streak. It’s the team’s defensive prowess that’s been key to a successful season.
The Ichabods lead the MIAA in turnovers forced per game with 17.79. They are also the top scoring defense in the league, allowing 57.6 points per game. That mark also ranks Washburn 37th in the country.
“We know there’s always better defense that we can do. As much turnovers as we cause, it’s all momentum and motivation,” senior guard Aniah Wayne said. “It keeps us going and it’s about setting the bar higher every time we play.”
Throughout the season, experience has been another key aspect for the Ichabods. Yiibari Nwidadah, a senior, earned all-MIAA First Team honors earlier this week. Nwidadah is the first Washburn player since 2013 to earn a first-team selection.
Washburn basketball: Ichabods ready to avenge last year's MIAA first-round exit
Nwidadah was also picked to the all-MIAA defensive team. She’s the first Washburn player in 23 years to be picked to both teams.
Payton Sterk, a senior, was a second-team all-MIAA selection, while senior Gabi Giovannetti was an honorable mention all-MIAA pick.
“The seniors deserve this, it’s a nice benchmark for any team to have a 20-win season,” head coach Lora Westling said. “This team wants to play in March and we are working hard to make that happen.”
Washburn defeated Pittsburg State 71-56 on Feb. 25 for the only meeting between the two teams this season.
The winner will face either No. 2 Fort Hays State or No. 7 Missouri Western in the semifinals on Saturday, March 7.
“Every day we talk about the MIAA and the national tournament,” Wayne said. “We are hungry and we are ready to go.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Washburn athletics for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Washburn women's basketball's defense will be key in MIAA Tournament
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Washburn (21-7, 14-5 in the MIAA) enters the conference tournament ranked No. 6 in the final NCAA Central Region rankings. The top eight teams will make the NCAA Tournament next week. A strong showing in the MIAA Tournament will solidify a spot in the national tournament for Washburn.
The Ichabods last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2013.
Sports: How Lou Holtz's impact on Benedictine College went far beyond football
Washburn closed the regular season on a six-game winning streak. It’s the team’s defensive prowess that’s been key to a successful season.
The Ichabods lead the MIAA in turnovers forced per game with 17.79. They are also the top scoring defense in the league, allowing 57.6 points per game. That mark also ranks Washburn 37th in the country.
“We know there’s always better defense that we can do. As much turnovers as we cause, it’s all momentum and motivation,” senior guard Aniah Wayne said. “It keeps us going and it’s about setting the bar higher every time we play.”
Throughout the season, experience has been another key aspect for the Ichabods. Yiibari Nwidadah, a senior, earned all-MIAA First Team honors earlier this week. Nwidadah is the first Washburn player since 2013 to earn a first-team selection.
Washburn basketball: Ichabods ready to avenge last year's MIAA first-round exit
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Nwidadah was also picked to the all-MIAA defensive team. She’s the first Washburn player in 23 years to be picked to both teams.
Payton Sterk, a senior, was a second-team all-MIAA selection, while senior Gabi Giovannetti was an honorable mention all-MIAA pick.
“The seniors deserve this, it’s a nice benchmark for any team to have a 20-win season,” head coach Lora Westling said. “This team wants to play in March and we are working hard to make that happen.”
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Washburn defeated Pittsburg State 71-56 on Feb. 25 for the only meeting between the two teams this season.
The winner will face either No. 2 Fort Hays State or No. 7 Missouri Western in the semifinals on Saturday, March 7.
“Every day we talk about the MIAA and the national tournament,” Wayne said. “We are hungry and we are ready to go.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Washburn athletics for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Washburn women's basketball's defense will be key in MIAA Tournament
Continue reading...
