By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's women's basketball team faces a tough test in Wednesday's MIAA opener, with No. 1-ranked Fort Hays State visiting Lee Arena for a 5:30 p.m. contest.
Washburn is 1-4 on the season and fighting a three-game losing streak while Fort Hays State is 5-0.
Through four games, the Ichabods have a 38.6 field goal percentage and average 58.2 points and 40.2 rebounds.
The Ichabods have had a higher field goal percentage than their opponents in four of their five games and WU has also led or tied in rebounds in all but one game.
Ron McHenry's Washburn University women's basketball team will be looking to bounce back from a 1-4 start when No. 1-ranked Fort Hays State visits Lee Arena Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn has struggled at the free throw line to start the season, making 29 of 59 attempts (49.2 percent).
Senior Huner Bentley averages a team-high 10.6 points for Washburn and has gone 8 of 10 from the free throw line while Mackenzie Gamble and Macy Doebele are both averaging 8 points.
Bentley needs 46 more points to hit 1,300 in her career and is 57 points away from moving up to No. 11 on Washburn's career scoring list.
Abby Oliver averages 7.2 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Ichabods while Aubree Dewey leads the team with 15 assists.
The Tigers' 2020-21 season ended with a 72-68 loss in the NCAA Tournament semifinals against No. 20 Central Missouri.
Fort Hays State averages 77.4 points and has a 44.2 field goal percentage.
Second-year freshman Katie Wagner averaging a double-double with 20.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the field. She also is the team leader in assists with 16.
Olivia Hollenbeck is averaging 13.0 points for Fort Hays State while Lauren West chips in 12.4 points per game and has made a team-best nine 3-pointers.
Washburn holds a 47-37 series advantage over Fort Hays State, but has lost 10 of the last 11 meetings.
Washburn wraps up its five-game homestand on Saturday, hosting Nebraska-Kearney at 1 p.m.
