By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's MIAA basketball doubleheader at Central Missouri that was scheduled to open 2022 will now close out 2021.
Because of expected winter weather on tap for Saturday, the Washburn-Central Missouri games were pushed up a day to be played on Friday, with the women's game scheduled for 2 p.m. and the men's game to follow at approximately 4 o'clock in Warrensburg, Mo. at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
The Ichabod women's team has won its last three games, including a 71-50 non-conference victory over Bethany College Wednesday in Lee Arena, improving to 4-7 on the season. The Ichabods are 2-3 in the MIAA and will face a Jennies team that is 8-4 this season and 4-1 in MIAA play.
The Ichabod men's team (6-6, 3-3 MIAA) dropped an 85-82 loss to Northeastern State on Dec. 20. The Mules are (6-3, 3-2 MIAA) and have won their last two games, topping Missouri Southern 87-57 on Dec. 16 and Pittsburg State 66-58 on Dec. 18 in a pair of road wins.
Senior Hunter Bentley needs 14 points to move into the No. 9 spot on Washburn's career scoring list. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
WU AT CENTRAL MISSOURI WOMEN
Both the Ichabods and Jennies will take three-game win streaks into Friday's contest.
Washburn will only have had one day's rest before heading to Central Missouri while the Jennies last played on Dec. 18 at Pittsburg State and claimed a 70-61 win.
Washburn and Central Missouri have played each other 66 times since 1990 and WU leads the all-time series, 41-25. The two teams met three times last season and Washburn went 1-2, taking a 63-55 victory in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals.
Senior Hunter Bentley leads Washburn in scoring at 11.8 points per game and averages 4.3 rebounds. The former Bishop Miege standout needs 14 points to move into the No. 9 spot on Washburn's career scoring list.
Abby Oliver averages 7.5 points and Mackenzie Gamble 6.9 points while Lauren Cassaday leads Washburn with a 5.0 rebounding average and Aubree Dewey leads WU with 25 assists.
Central Missouri's Nija Collier leads the MIAA in four categories and averages a double-double with 22.8 points and 13 rebounds per game to go with a 57.8 field goal percentage.
Brooke Littrell (17.8-point average) and Olivia Nelson (14.4) also contribute double-figure scoring for the Jennies.
WU AT CENTRAL MISSOURI MEN
Washburn is expected to be closer to full strength than it has been all season for Friday's game, as both Johnny Clausing and Tyler Nelson could see their first action of the season against the Mules.
The Ichabods lead the all-time series with the Mules 54-52 and have won the last three overall, including a 70-68 win on Feb. 13, 2021 in Warrensburg.
Junior Jalen Lewis leads Washburn in scoring at 14.3 points per game while hitting 25 of 66 3-pointers.
Freshman Michael Keegan is averaging 11.2 points and leads the Ichabods with a 6.3 rebounding average.
After missing multiple games with an ankle injury, senior Tyler Geiman is averaging 10.4 points and 6.4 assists in five games this season.
Gavin Pinkley leads the Mules with a 12.8 scoring average while Ja'Cor Nelson averages 10.9 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds.
Washburn will return to Lee Arena next Thursday to host defending national champion Northwest Missouri.
