Head coach Lora Westling on Washburn women’s basketball during MIAA Media Day
Excitement is building Washburn women’s basketball as they return their entire starting lineup. Coach Lora Westling speaks during MIAA Media Day on Monday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Washburn women’s basketball saw its season end in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s conference tournament semifinals last year. For a team riding high on momentum, they wanted more. They had dreams of a conference title, but ultimately fell short.
The team is determined for more this season and they were candid about it during the MIAA Media Day at the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City, Missouri on Monday, Oct. 6.
“As a program, we want to go win championships,” senior center Yiibari Nwidadah said. “We are going to go after the regular season, after the MIAA Tournament and into the national tournament. That’s a big expectation for us and it’s been driving a lot of our workouts.”
Nwidadah highlights a roster that returns many key players from last year. Thanks to the Ichabods’ retention of players, they were selected No. 2 in the preseason coaches poll and No. 3 in the media poll. They received the most first-place votes in the coaches poll, too.
“It’s better than the alternative,” Washburn head coach Lora Westling laughed about the meaning behind a preseason poll. “We’ll play the games on the floor here in a few weeks and hopefully, carve out our own kind of path from there.
The MIAA sees three new coaches on the women’s side with Emporia State, Central Oklahoma and Missouri Western boasting new leaders. Roster turnover has been a challenge for other programs, too. But Washburn’s roster and coaching consistency have them lined up for a big season.
Westling, who is beginning her fourth season as head coach, shared that Nwidadah is the best post player in the country. She’s a major piece for which Washburn is building around.
Nwidadah led the team with 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. All five starters from last year’s 18-13 return, too. They bring back 91% of the team’s scoring, which is impressive during an era of college athletics that is built upon transfers
“We have a group that is unsatisfied with how it ended,” Westling said. “We are excited with what we can do this year. Everybody is growing in the same direction and that’s been really positive.”
The Ichabods will begin their new season at the Central Region Challenge in Edmond, Oklahoma. They will face St. Cloud State and Southwest Minnesota State on Nov. 14-15.
The team’s first home game will be against Southwest Baptist University on Friday, Nov. 21. It will be the women’s first chance to play in the newly renovated Lee Arena.
“It looks amazing. I’m so excited,” Nwidadah said. “I’ve going in there and peaking through the windows and seeing what they’ve done. They’ve done a really good job.”
MIAA preseason coaches pollFort Hays State (2)Washburn (6)Pittsburg State (5)Central Missouri (1)Nebraska KearneyMissouri WesternMissouri SouthernNorthwest MissouriNortheastern StateArkansas Fort SmithEmporia StateCentral OklahomaRogers StateNewmanMIAA preseason media pollPittsburg State (13)Fort Hays State (5)Washburn (3)Central Missouri (4)Nebraska KearneyMissouri WesternNorthwest MissouriArkansas Fort SmithMissouri SouthernEmporia StateNortheastern StateCentral OklahomaRogers StateNewman
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com