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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University sophomore speedster Makenzie Sais never even considered pursuing a career in track and field, with the Ichabod center-fielder more than happy to let her speed do its talking on the softball field.

Washburn sophomore Makenzie Sais has 43 stolen bases in 45 attempts for the 17-3 Ichabods, setting a single-season school record in just 20 games. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

And right now that talent is speaking volumes.

"I never ran track,'' Sais said with a chuckle. "I was always just a softball kid, never track.''

After turning in an outstanding freshman season for the Ichabods, Sais is off to a record-breaking start in 2026, already setting Washburn's single-season school record for stolen bases while taking aim --- quiet aim -- on multiple other records.

"I feel like in the past I definitely used to (pay attention to the stats), but then I feel like it just kind of started affecting the way I was competing, so I kind of just stopped caring about that and tried to just go out and play,'' said Saiz, a Frederick, Colo. native.

Sais became the Ichabod single-season leader in stolen bases against Montana State-Billings with her 34th steal and she enters this weekend's Midwest College Classic in Shawnee with a nation-best 43 stolen bases.

"I feel good about it, it's exciting,'' Sais said about her school record. "But I definitely didn't know about it at the time. I didn't know until after the fact, and it was cool to know and cool to get that, but I'm still just wanting to work for my team.''

Sais is a whopping 22 steals ahead of the No. 2-ranked player on the Division II chart and her total is 27 more than the NCAA Division I leader and 28 ahead of the NCAA Division III leader.

Sais, who has only been caught stealing twice in her 45 attempts, not only broke an Ichabod single-season record that had stood since 1999 when Torrie Beauchamp went 33 of 37 in stolen base attempts, but her 43 steals are more than the combined total of 217 Division II teams entering the weekend.

Sais also ranks fourth in the nation in hits with 28 and is second in runs scored with 25 while helping Washburn get off to a 17-3 start.

"I definitely want to keep working hard and get better every day,'' Sais said. "I feel really good with where the team's at right now. I feel like we're sitting really well, but we just need to keep striving for even more.''

That quest will continue this weekend in the Midwest College Classic at the Mid-America Sports Complex, opening with a 4:30 p.m. Thursday game against against Augustana, S.D.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 3-ranked and 2026 MIAA champion Washburn University men's basketball will wrap up the regular season with two home games this week, starting with Pittsburg State at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Junior Jeremiah Jones (22) is one steal away from tying Washburn's single-season record entering Wednesday's game against Pittsburg State. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods clinched their 12th outright MIAA title and their second in a row after topping Central Oklahoma last week.

Washburn is coming off an 81-64 win over Rogers State in their final regular-season road game last Saturday.

Washburn is 26-1 overall, 16-1 MIAA, clinched the regular-season conference title and will be the No. 1-seed in the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. and will have its opening game in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5, at 6 p.m. against the winner of the No. 8/No. 9 game.

Pittsburg State is 15-12, 9-8 MIAA, after falling to Fort Hays State 65-56 on last Saturday in its home finale.

Wedneday's game is the only regular-season meeting between the Ichabods and the Gorillas this season. With a win over the Gorillas, Washburn will record its 28th consecutive home win, tying the 28-game streak from Nov. 19, 1993 to Feb. 8, 1995.

The Ichabods have the No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the MIAA, putting up 86.9 points per game, and also have the No. 1-ranked scoring defense, allowing 62.2 points a game.

The Ichabods have recorded 32 20-win seasons in program history and six under Ichabod coach Brett Ballard in his nine seasons, receiving four NCAA postseason berths and coaching the 2024-25 squad to only the program's second 30-win season in school history.

Washburn is second in NCAA Division II in scoring margin at plus 24.7 points per game and is ranked third in field goal percentage at 51.3 percent.

Washburn is first in rebound margin at plus 10.9 and third in scoring defense.

Junior Jeremiah Jones leads the nation in total steals with 81 and is ranked third in steals per game at 3.00. Jones has pulled within one steal of tying the Washburn single-season steals record of 82 set by Will McNeill during the 2012-13 season.

Sophomore Dillon Claussen is ninth in the nation in field goal percentage at 62.3 percent.

Senior Brady Christiansen is 10th on the NCAA active D-II chart with 727 career rebounds and he has also moved into the top 50 all-time at Washburn in scoring with 833 career points.

Senior Sam Ungashick has scored 953 collegiate points with 594 coming at Washburn after scoring 359 in his lone season at Benedictine as a freshman before joining the Ichabods.

Senior Bryson Smith's 26 points against Rogers State were a career-best, as were his 15 field goal attempts, 11 free throws and 13 free throw attempts.

Washburn's 27-game homecourt winning streak is second in the nation behind Nova Southeastern's 98-game winning streak.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University women's basketball begins its final homestand of the 2025-26 season at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday against Pittsburg State in Lee Arena.

Washburn senior Payton Sterk is coming off a season-high 31-point performance with seven 3-pointers in last Saturday's win at Rogers State. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn improved to 19-7 overall and 12-5 in the MIAA with an 87-60 win over Rogers State on the road last Saturday.

Washburn, 10-1 on the year at home, was included in the first NCAA Regional rankings released in alphabetical order on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Pittsburg State lost its third game in a row last Saturday, falling 74-71 in overtime to No. 6 Fort Hays State last Saturday, dropping to 18-8 overall and 11-6 in the MIAA.

Senior Payton Sterk leads Washburn in scoring with a 12.2 average and has hit a team-high 46 3-pointers. Sterk ranks ninth in the MIAA in 3-pointers made per game.

Sterk's career free throw percentage of 86.6 percent is the best for any Ichabod.

Sterk led the way with 31 points on 10-15 shooting and 7-10 from 3-point range in Saturday's win at Rogers State, the most points by any Ichabod this season. She also added four steals.

Senior Yibari Nwidadah averages 11.9 points for the Ichabods and leads the team with a 7.5 rebounding average while also shooting a team-high 57.6 percent from the floor. Nwidadah has scored in double figures in 16 games with six double-doubles.

Nwidadah registered a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds against Rogert State.

Senior Gabi Giovannetti averages 10.9 points and is second on the team with 38 3-pointers. She also is swiping a team-high 1.7 steals per game, ranking seventh in the MIAA in steals.

Holding opponents to 57.4 points per game, Washburn is 38th nationally and first in the MIAA in scoring defense.

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Makenzie Sais piling up steals, records for 17-3 Washburn softball

No. 3 Washburn men's basketball to host Pittsburg State Wednesday night

Washburn women takes aim on 20th win against Pittsburg State Wednesday night