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Defense dominates as Heights girls claim 56-12 UKC win over KC-Turner
By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
The duo of junior Reianna Vega and senior Kaydence Torrez proved to be too much for the visitors as the Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds cruised to a 56-12 United Kansas Conference victory over KC-Turner on Friday night at Shawnee Heights.
Junior Reianna Vega scored a game-high 16 points in Friday's Shawnee Heights 56-12 UKC win over KC-Turner. [File photo/TSN]
Vega got things started for the T-Birds by knocking down a jump shot to open the scoring. Torrez then answered with back-to-back layups before Vega earned her second quick basket, forcing a Golden Bears timeout just over two minutes into the contest.
The two post players continued to trade baskets as Shawnee Heights opened up a 23-0 lead after the first quarter.
Sophomore KK Emmot added all five of her points on the evening in the period. A 3-pointer from senior Haley Bowers and a layup from Torrez extended the T-Birds’ lead to 28-0 before Alyasia Ollie’s jumper gave Turner its first points of the evening.
Aubrey Hamilton joined in on the scoring later in the second quarter, tallying all seven of her points in the frame as the hosts took a 43-3 lead at halftime.
Shawnee Heights opened the second half on a 9-0 run, featuring a 3-pointer from Taylor Brees and a pair of baskets from Vega.
Andrea Ruby answered by hitting Turner’s first 3-pointer of the night, while Jerzey Hanna knocked down a shot from well beyond the arc a few minutes later.
With the contest in hand for the T-Birds, the remainder of the game was played with a running clock, with both sides giving playing time to their reserves.
Vega led Shawnee Heights with 16 points on 7 of 11 shooting, while making both of her free throw attempts and adding eight rebounds. Torrez also reached double figures, scoring 14 points.
Ichabod women to kick off final homestand of season with Pink Out contest against UCO
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball opens its final homestand of the season Thursday night, hosting Central Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in Lee Arena for Pink Out night.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah leads Washburn with 17 points and 7.7 rebounds a game entering Thursday's home MIAA contest against Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Payton Sterk is averaging 16.6 points and has hit 58 3-pointers for 14-11 Washburn entering Thursday's game against UCO. [File photo/TSN]
Each player will wear a custom warm up shirt featuring the player's name, number, signature and the Stormont Vail Logo. A silent auction for each of the custom shirts will be held to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
There will also be 200 Pink Out shirts given out for free, first come, first serve. Cancer screening info will be provided at the game via Stormont Vail & The American Cancer Society.
Washburn is 14-11 on the year overall and 8-7 in the MIAA after defeating Northeastern State 62-52 last Saturday. Central Oklahoma improved to 7-17 overall and 6-9 inside the MIAA after defeating Rogers State 74-44 last Saturday.
The Ichabods, 13-16 last season, were picked to finish ninth in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and were tabbed 10th by the coaches. Washburn is ranked No. 5 in the latest KPI standings which are used for seeding in the MIAA Tournament.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah is averaging 17.0 points and 7.7 rebounds while also shooting a team-high 66.5 percent from the field. The Olathe North product has started all 23 games she has played in, logging 27.7 minutes per game and has shot at or above 50 percent in all but three games and has six double-doubles.
Nwidadah has the best field goal percentage in the nation while ranking fourth in the MIAA in scoring average and fifth in rebounding average. She has 15-plus points in 15 games this year.
Nwidadah's career field goal percentage of .591 is the best in program history and with 215 career offensive rebounds she is seventh all-time at WU. She needs two more offensive boards to move up to sixth. In overall rebounds she is 14th in Washburn history with 569.
Junior Payton Sterk is averaging 16.6 points while starting all 25 contests and playing a team-high 31.0 minutes per game. The Colorado Springs native is shooting 43.3 percent from the floor and a team-high 40.8 percent from deep while drilling a team-high 58 3-pointers.
No. 4-ranked Ichabods looking to snap brief two-game losing streak in home tilt with Bronchos
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 4-ranked Washburn University basketball team returns to Lee Arena Thursday night, hosting Central Oklahoma in a 7:30 p.m. MIAA contest.
Washburn senior Andrew Orr now has 1,231 career points, sitting in 15th all-time at WU after passing Brady Skeens against Northeastern State in his last game. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will be looking to snap a brief two-game slide, entering the contest with a 22-2 record while going 13-2 in the MIAA after falling at Northeastern State 88-84 last Saturday.
The Bronchos are 14-10 overall and 8-7 in the MIAA after dropping a 102-92 decision at Rogers State last time out. The game marked the second contest in a row the Bronchos had scored 92 points following a 92-60 win against Missouri Western on Feb. 8.
Washburn is 12-3 all-time against the Bronchos in games played in Topeka, winning the last eight in a row played in Lee Arena. Washburn's last home loss to the Bronchos came on Feb. 20, 2016 in a 71-60 loss.
WU has been ranked in the top five nationally for 12 straight weeks for the first time in program history.
Exclusive player worn warm up shirts that will be auctioned off to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Each player will have their own unique shirt featuring their name, number, signature and the Stormont Vail Logo.
Against Northeastern State last time out, six players scored in double-figures against the Ichabods. It was the first time that had happened to a Washburn team since Missouri Southern had six players reach double figures on Dec. 6, 2014.
Washburn senior Andrew Orr became the 28th member of the Ichabod 1,000 point club at Fort Hays State earlier this season. Orr now has 1,231 career points, sitting in 15th all-time after passing Brady Skeens against Northeastern State last time out.
Next on the scoring chart in 14th is former Ichabod Eric Carter with 1,241 career points from 1997-2001.
Orr is 13th in the nation in field goal percentage at 63.7 percent, which leads the MIAA.
