Complete Game Notes
Game #13: Lincoln (2-10, 0-6 MIAA) at Emporia State (9-4, 4-3 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Emporia, Kan.
Live Stats: https://esuhornets.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #14: Lincoln at Washburn (6-5, 2-3 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2022
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Site: Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats: https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

THE TIP OFF:  The first two road games of 2023 await the Lincoln women's basketball team this week, as LU heads to Kansas for a pair of MIAA contests. Lincoln first travels to Emporia, Kan. on Thursday (Jan. 5) to take on Emporia State at 5:30 p.m. CST. On Saturday (Jan. 7), the Blue Tigers visit Topeka, Kan. for a 1:00 p.m. CST game against Washburn. LU will be playing for its first league win of the season after dropping a very hard-fought game against Fort Hays State, 85-68, on Monday (Jan. 2). Emporia State is 9-4, but is also trying to rebound from a loss, as the Lady Hornets fell to Central Oklahoma, 66-57, on Monday. Washburn, meanwhile, has won two in a row, including beating Central Oklahoma, 75-73, last Saturday (Dec. 31).

FAST BREAKS
- The Blue Tigers and the Lady Hornets will meet for the 36th time on Saturday, with Emporia State leading the all-time series, 32-2.

- Emporia State has won 23-straight games in the series, with Lincoln's last victory being a 65-61 road win over the Lady Hornets in 1993-94. The teams met in Jefferson City on Jan. 1, 2022, with ESU winning, 79-47.

- Saturday marks the 33rd meeting between Washburn and Lincoln. A win would be the first for Lincoln over the Ichabods in program history.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln is led by Le'Yanna McGinnis, who is averaging 14.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. Next on the scoring list is Kelsey Mitchell, who is shooting .336 from the floor while averaging 8.4 points. Saniya Simmons (3.7 assists per game) and Niyah Jackson (2.9 apg.) are leading Lincoln in assists, & Ashlyn Alloway averages 6.8 points.

HEAD COACH ANDREA MIZE:  Andrea Mize is in her third year as the head coach at Lincoln after a successful two-year run at Central Florida College. In 2019-20, Mize led CFC to a 19-win year that included a victory in the first round of the FCSAA playoffs. Mize previously was an assistant at Martin Methodist, helping the program reach the NAIA national tournament three times.

LAST TIME OUT
Lincoln 67, Stephens 47
Four Blue Tigers scored in double figures as LU beat Stephens, 67-47, in Jason Gym on Monday, Dec. 19. Miriam Bazylewicz led Lincoln with 14 points and nine rebounds, and Le'Yanna McGinnis added 12 points and eight boards. Ashlyn Alloway scored 11 and Kelsey Mitchell had 12 points while Saniya Simmons tallied six steals.

Nebraska Kearney 72, Lincoln 37
Lincoln was held to just .288 shooting overall as Nebraska Kearney won, 72-37, in Jefferson City in the final game of 2022 on Saturday (Dec. 31). LU was led offensively by Le'Yanna McGinnis (nine points, six rebounds), Mercy Gonzalez (eight points) and Niyah Jackson (eight points).

Fort Hays State 85, Lincoln 68
The Blue Tigers gave Fort Hays State all it could handle, but a 27-point second quarter helped FHSU edge LU, 85-68, on Monday (Jan. 2). Lincoln shot .447 for the contest and .438 from long range, with Kelsey Mitchell scoring 12 points on four treys. Miriam Bazylewicz scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds while Aliyah Bello added 10 points and Ashlyn Alloway chipped in nine.

SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS:  Tre'Zure Jobe leads the MIAA with 20.2 points per game and is averaging 3.2 steals and 2.2 assists as ESU is averaging 68.5 points while allowing 61.6. Also averaging double digits is Victoria Price with 10.2 per night while Maary Lakes leads Emporia State with 5.0 rebounds per contest. Opponents are out-rebounding the Lady Hornets, 40.4-35.8.

ESU HEAD COACH TOBY WYNN:  In five years leading Emporia State, Wynn has guided the team to more than 80 victories. He is the second coach in program history to lead the team to at least 18 wins and a trip to the NCAA tournament in each of his first three seasons. Before coming to Emporia, Wynn was the head coach at Seward Community College, where he won 349 games.

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS:  Washburn has just one player averaging at least 10 points per night, Aubree Dewey, who tallies 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Natalia Figueroa is next on the scoring list with 8.9 points, Mackenzie Gamble averages 7.6 points and Macy Doebele is scoring 7.5 points per game. Washburn shoots .380 from the field, but just .606 at the line.

WU HEAD COACH LORA WESTLING:  One of the best players in Washburn history, Westling is in her first season as the head coach at WU. As a player, Westling helped the Ichabods win the 2005 NCAA Division II National Championship, and her 144 career three-pointers are still the sixth-most in program history. Westling came to Washburn from Western Colorado, where she won 77 games and led the team to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.

SHOOTING STAR:  Le'Yanna McGinnis shoots .559 from the field, which, entering the weekend, ranks as the fifth-best percentage in the MIAA and the 28th-best in NCAA Division II. Her 14.9 points per game are the 10th-most in the league this season, and she also rates 12th in the MIAA with 37 made free throws.

IT'S A STEAL:  Saniya Simmons, who is ninth in the MIAA in assists with 3.7 per game, has been an even better thief, as she leads Lincoln with 34 steals this season. That total ranks sixth in the MIAA, and that averages to 2.8 per night, the fifth-best average in the league. On the national level, Simmons is 27th in DII in steals per game and 28th in total steals.

TO THE LINE:  After finishing 13th in the MIAA in free throw percentage in 2021-22, Lincoln has improved its work at the line, shooting .725 this season. Lincoln has seven players shooting .700 or better at the charity stripe, including Le'Yanna McGinnis, who is shooting .712 and has made 37 free throws. Lincoln's percentage is the sixth-highest in the MIAA this year, while LU's average of 12.5 free throws per game is fifth in the league.

DOWN THE BLOCK:  Through the first 12 games of 2022-23, Le'Yanna McGinnis has blocked 14 shots, an average of 1.17 per game. McGinnis is currently eighth in the MIAA in blocks per game and eighth in total rejections. On the national level, she is 71st in Division II in total blocked shots.

GET YOUR TICKETS:  Lincoln is partnering with Hometown Ticketing once again to sell tickets to all of LU's basketball games online in 2022-23. For more information, visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/Tickets.

JOIN THE CLUB:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.

WATCH LIVE:  Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on the Blue Tigers to victory via The MIAA Network. All 13 Lincoln home games will be broadcast through a multi-camera system and can be seen at www.TheMIAANetwork.com/LUBlueTigers.

GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.

NEXT UP:  Lincoln returns home next Thursday (Jan. 12) to host Rogers State in Jason Gym at 5:30 p.m. CST.