Complete Game Notes
Game #25: Washburn (10-14, 6-11 MIAA) at Lincoln (5-19, 3-14 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #26: Emporia State (13-11, 8-10 MIAA) at Lincoln
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

THE TIP OFF:  With the Blue Tigers still in competition for a berth in the MIAA Championship tournament, the Lincoln women's basketball team closes its 2022-23 home slate with a pair of league rematches this week. Up first is Emporia State, with LU hosting the Lady Hornets on Thursday (Feb. 16) at 5:30 p.m. CST. Lincoln then hosts Washburn on Saturday (Feb. 18) for Senior Day at 1:00 p.m. CST. Following that game, Lincoln will recognize seniors Niyah Jackson, Le'Yanna McGinnis, Bailey Lewis and Kelsey Mitchell in a special ceremony. Lincoln will be playing for a season sweep over Emporia State after beating the Lady Hornets on the road, 85-81, on Jan. 5. On Saturday, LU will try to avenge a 73-59 loss to the Ichabods back on Jan. 7.

FAST BREAKS
- Thursday marks the 34th meeting between Washburn and Lincoln. A win would be the first for Lincoln over the Ichabods in program history.

- The Blue Tigers and the Lady Hornets will meet for the 37th time on Saturday, with Emporia State leading the all-time series, 32-3.

- With four games left in the season, Lincoln is two games behind Central Oklahoma for the final spot in the MIAA Women's Basketball Championship tournament. LU is three games back of Washburn, meaning every game is important for the Blue Tigers.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln is led by Le'Yanna McGinnis, who is averaging 12.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Next on the scoring chart is Niyah Jackson, who averages 8.7 points and 2.9 assists. Kelsey Mitchell scores 8.0 points while shooting .371 from long distance, and Saniya Simmons is tallying a team-high 3.3 assists per contest. Ashlyn Alloway, meanwhile, scores 7.5 points and grabs 4.5 boards per night.

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
Fort Hays State 77, Lincoln 57
Fort Hays State outscored Lincoln, 25-8, in the first quarter, and held off the Blue Tigers for a 77-57 win in Hays, Kan. on Thursday (Feb. 9). Lincoln was led offensively by AJ Bradley, who went 9-for-9 at the line, with 13 points, while Kelsey Mitchell and Miriam Bazylewicz each scored 10.

#11 Nebraska Kearney 76, Lincoln 66
The Blue Tigers gave the No. 11 team in the nation all it could handle, but Nebraska Kearney ended up with the win, 76-66, in Kearney, Neb. this past Saturday (Feb. 11). Lincoln shot .531 overall and .667 from three-point range, with Aliyah Bello scoring a team-high 14 points. Saniya Simmons and Niyah Jackson each scored 13, and Ashlyn Alloway grabbed 10 rebounds.

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS:  Aubree Dewey is the only Washburn player scoring in double digits, as she leads the team with 10.7 points per contest. She also leads WU in assists (3.7) while Yiibari Nwidadah averages a team-high 5.8 rebounds. Natalia Figueroa is second on the team in scoring with 8.6 per game.

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.

SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS:  Tre'Zure Jobe is one of the top scorers in the MIAA with 22.0 points, 4.1 boards and 2.6 assists per game. Victoria Price is averaging 10.0 points while Faith Paramore is third on the team with 8.4 ppg. The leading rebounder is Ehlaina Hartman with 5.0 boards per contest.

ESU HEAD COACH TOBY WYNN:  In five years leading Emporia State, Wynn has guided the team to more than 90 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.

GIVE AND TAKE:  Saniya Simmons leads the Blue Tigers in both assists and steals, ranking sixth in the MIAA with 46 total takeaways. Her 1.9 steals per game are the ninth-most in the league. Simmons also averages 3.3 assists, which is the 12th-best in the conference, while her 78 total assists rate ninth in the league.

RANKED RIVALS:  Last Saturday, Lincoln closed the toughest part of its 2022-23 schedule, as LU faced three opponents ranked in the top-25 of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's DII poll in its last five games. Lincoln, which also faced Pittsburg State & Fort Hays State teams that each have 19 wins, played home games vs. No. 7 Central Missouri and No 24 Missouri Southern and a road tilt at No. 11 Nebraska Kearney.

GET YOUR TICKETS:  Tickets will be on sale at both of Lincoln's home double-headers this week for the 2022-23 MIAA Basketball Championships in Kansas City, Mo. from March 1-5. Single session tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students, while a limited number of $50 all-tournament passes are also available.

DOUBLE DIGITS:  Kelsey Mitchell has scored at least 10 points in each of Lincoln's last three wins. Mitchell, who scored 17 in the road win over Emporia State, chipped in 11 vs. Rogers State and 10 against Northeastern State. She's been one of LU's best shooters, as her percentage of .371 from three-point range ranks as the fourth-best in the MIAA this year.

UNDE-NIYAH-BLE:  Niyah Jackson has stepped up her play lately, scoring at least 13 points in four of Lincoln's last five games. That includes a 25-point day vs. Pittsburg State and a 24-point night against Missouri Southern. She is averaging 8.7 points for the season and 2.9 assists to rate second on the team in both categories.

THE LINE UP:  The current starting five of Aliyah Bello, Saniya Simmons, Kelsey Mitchell, Niyah Jackson and Ashlyn Alloway have started three games together for LU's second-most used lineup of 2022-23. Lincoln has used a total of 13 starting fives, with only one combination being used as many as four times.

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 heads to Tahlequah, Okla. on Thursday (Feb. 23) to play Northeastern State at 5:30 p.m. CST.