Complete Game Notes
Game #25: Lincoln (6-18, 2-16 MIAA) at Washburn (11-13, 6-12 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats: https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/wbball
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #26: Lincoln at Emporia State (11-13, 8-10 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Site: Emporia, Kan.
Live Stats: https://esuhornets.com/sidearmstats/wbball
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

THE TIP OFF:  The Lincoln women's basketball team plays its final two games as a member of the MIAA this week, as the Blue Tigers play a pair of games in Kansas. Up first for Lincoln is a visit to Topeka, Kan. to take on Washburn on Thursday (Feb. 22) at 5:30 p.m. CST. The teams last met on Jan. 13 with the Blue Tigers securing a 77-64 victory over the Ichabods. Lincoln, which moves to the GLVC next season, will have the opportunity to end its final MIAA season with its first-ever season sweep over Washburn. On Saturday (Feb. 24), the Blue Tigers head to Emporia, Kan. to play Emporia State at 1:30 p.m. CST. The Lady Hornets won the first meeting of the year, 68-62, on Jan. 11. Lincoln still has a slim chance at a bid to the MIAA Women's Basketball Championship, but would need to win its four remaining games and get some help.

FAST BREAKS
- Saturday marks the 36th meeting between Lincoln and Washburn. The Ichabods lead the all-time series, 35-1.

- Lincoln's win over Washburn came earlier this year, as LU won in Jason Gym, 77-64.

- The Blue Tigers and the Lady Hornets meet for the 39th time on Thursday, with ESU leading the series, 33-4.

- Two of Lincoln's victories over Emporia State came last season, but ESU beat LU in Jason Gym earlier this year.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Leading the Blue Tigers in both scoring (14.6) and rebounding (6.9) is Ashlyn Alloway, who also has 34 steals and 25 blocks. Steph Torres averages 11.4 points as well as a team-high 2.3 assists while Imani Jones is next on the scoring chart with 7.1 ppg. AJ Bradley averages 6.6 points while Biance Stocks averages 5.1 points and 2.7 boards.

HEAD COACH ANDREA MIZE:  Andrea Mize is in her fourth 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 75, Lincoln 47
Fort Hays State shot .517 overall and held Lincoln to .333 shooting en route to a 75-47 victory inside Jason Gym last Thursday (Feb. 15). Biance Stocks led the Blue Tigers with 12 points, Ashlyn Alloway added 12 points and Hanne Nybo secured a team-high five rebounds.

Nebraska Kearney 84, Lincoln 66
Lincoln scored 41 points in the second half, but a slow start in the first two quarters help Nebraska Kearney win, 84-66, in Jefferson City on Saturday (Feb. 17). Miriam Bazylewicz led the Blue Tigers with 20 points and Ashlyn Alloway scored 16. The leading rebounder was Biance Stocks with five, and she also scored nine points as Lincoln shot .471 from the floor.

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS:  Aubree Dewey is averaging 16.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists while Yiibari Nwidadah, with 12.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest, nearly averages a doubledouble each game. Aniah Wayne is next on the scoring chart with 8.6 points per game, and Gabi Giovannetti tallies 6.4 ppg. for a Washburn team that averages 69 points per night.

WU HEAD COACH LORA WESTLING:  One of the best players in Washburn history, Westling is in her second season as the head coach at WU. As a player, Westling helped the Ichabods win the 2005 NCAA Division II National title, 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:  Emporia State has two players who are close to averaging double-doubles in Faith Paramore (15.0 ppg., 8.8 rpg.) and Queen Ulabo (9.5 ppg., 7.9 rpg.). Katie Horyna leads the Lady Hornets with 3.8 assists per game while Paramore is next with 2.5. Also scoring in double figures is Gracie Gilpin with 10.4 points per contest.

ESU HEAD COACH BRIAN OSTERMANN:  The first-year coach of the Lady Hornets came to ESU with 15 years of NCAA Division I experience, most recently serving as the associate head coach at Kansas State. Ostermann also worked at Texas Christian after spending nine years developing national top-25 teams at the junior college level.

THEME NIGHTS:  On Feb. 29 the Blue Tigers will celebrate Greek Night while also participating in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game. The regular season finale on March 2 will be a "White Out" as well as Senior Day. Fans are asked to wear white for LU's last game of the regular season.

SECOND WATCH: AJ Bradley has excelled at getting to the line, as, in four years at Lincoln, she has attempted 433 free throws. Bradley has made 293 of those attempts and has moved into third place all-time in program history in total career made free throws. She passed Sheila Lee, who made 257 free throws between 2001-04. Bradley is now just six free throws away from second place, held by Andrea Sykes, who made 298 free throws from 1995-99.

SHOOTING STAR:  Ashlyn Alloway is shooting .496 from the field, a shooting percentage that ranks third in the MIAA and 56th in NCAA Division II. Alloway has made 134 total field goals, the seventh-most this year by an MIAA player. Alloway, who also rates ninth in the MIAA in scoring (14.6), is additionally shooting .333 from three-point range and .773 at the line.

TORR DE FORCE:  Steph Torres, who leads Lincoln with 2.3 assists per game, has emerged as LU's second-leading scorer with 11.4 points per night. Torres ranks 22nd in the MIAA in total assists (54) and her 32.1 minutes per game are the ninth-most in the league.

WELCOME BACK:  After missing most of the season with an injury, senior Miriam Bazylewicz has returned to play in the last five games, and has steadily improved in each performance. Bazylewicz had six points, three rebounds, two steals and two assists against Missouri Southern. On Saturday (Feb. 17) against Nebraska Kearney, Bazylewicz led the Blue Tigers with 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting.

TURN IT OVER:  Lincoln has been one of the best teams in the MIAA in forcing turnovers, rating third in the league with 16.8 takeaways per game. The Blue Tigers have won the turnover battle 11 times in 2023-24 and have a 6-5 record in such games. The Blue Tigers average 8.6 steals per contest, the fifth-most in the MIAA.

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:  LU hosts Northeastern State at 5:30 p.m. CST on Thursday (Feb. 29) and faces Rogers State in Jason Gym on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. CST.