Postseason Elite Eight Media Guide

Lady Blues travel to Kearney, Neb. for NCAA Elite Eight and March 26th match up with South Dakota
The Washburn Lady Blues will take part in their fifth NCAA Elite Eight after topping arch-rival Emporia State for the third time this season to advance to Kearney, Neb., where they will battle No. 3 ranked South Dakota - winners of their last 29 games. The No. 24 ranked Lady Blues knocked off the Lady Hornets 73-58 to reach the Elite Eight after falling in the last two South Central Regional Finals. Washburn has not been to the Elite Eight since the 2005 season, when the Lady Blues won three straight games en route to the NCAA National Championship - the first NCAA title in school history. South Dakota is making their first trip to the Elite Eight after dispatching Minnesota State in the North Central Regional Final 61-49.  The Lady Blues reached the Elite Eight during the 1992, 1993, 2003, 2005 and now 2008 seasons.

Quick Facts
Matchup: Washburn (26-6) vs South Dakota (31-1)
Date: Wednesday, March 26
Time: 8:30 p.m. CST
Site: Kearney, Neb. -- UNK Health and Sports Center (6,000)
Radio: 580 AM WIBW / Topeka with play by play with Mark Elliott and Bruce Steinbrock
Online Audio: Through wusports.com (free)
Live Stats: Through www.lopers.com/08_NCAA_Elite8/default.htm
Coaches: Washburn head coach Ron McHenry is 214-43 (.831) in his eighth season.
South Dakota’s head coach Chad Lavin is in ninth season (14th overall) coaching at USD. He is coaching in his 26th collegiate season overall. He owns an overall record of 271-138 (.639) at USD Lavin is 446-300 (.598) in his collegiate coaching career. In the NCC, he has a 100-88 record.
Rankings: Washburn is ranked No. 24 in the WBCA/USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, South Dakota is ranked No. 3.
Tournament Web Site: http://www.lopers.com/08_NCAA_Elite8/default.htm
Series Record: WU leads the all-time series 1-0.
Blue Notes: WU won the 2005 NCAA National Championship in their last trip to the Elite Eight in Hot Springs, Ark.
Last Meeting: WU 68-61 on 11/26/94 in Warrensburg, Mo.
Last WU win: same
Last USD win: n/a
Worth noting: Washburn is 1-3 in nationla quarterfinal games with the win coming on 3/23/05 against Charleston en route to the 2005 title.

Lady Blues on radio . . .
The Lady Blues game with South Dakota will be broadcast live on AM 580 WIBW with Mark Elliott calling the action and Bruce Steinbrock providing color commentary. The games will also be streamed live online by clicking the live audio button under Lady Blues Basketball on the WU web site at wusports.com.

The coaches . . .
Washburn head coach Ron McHenry has posted a 214-43 (.833) record overall and 112-30 (.789) record in the MIAA with five MIAA regular season championships and the 2005 NCAA National Championship.  McHenry has also led the Lady Blues to four MIAA Postseason Tournament titles including four of the six played in Kansas City. McHenry has the highest winning percentage (.833) in MIAA history of coaches who have at least 200 wins.
He was named the Lady Blues head coach prior to the 2000-01 season. He is second among active women's NCAA Division II Coaches in winning percentage. McHenry was named the MIAA’s Coach of the Year in 2005 and in 2006 and the Division II Bulletin National Coach of the Year in 2005. (complete bio on page 2 of notes.)
South Dakota’s head coach Chad Lavin is in his 14th and final season at the helm of the Coyote program. Lavin is retiring after this season. It has been quite a final year for Coach Lavin, who directed the Coyotes to the best regular season record in school history of 30-1 (96.8 percent). He also led USD to an unbeaten season in the league. USD’s 12-0 is just the sixth perfect season ever recorded in league history. He has a 6-6 record in the national playoffs.
For the first time ever, the Coyotes won the NCC Postseason Tournament with a 72-69 decision over North Dakota on March 9. In the win, The U ended the Sioux’s 18-game winning streak in the tournament and ended their tournament winning streak at seven. Also for the first time, the Coyotes upended North Dakota three times in a season.
Lavin has been named the NCC Coach of the Year for the fourth time this season. He was also the Russell Athletic/WBCA North Central Regional Coach of the Year.
In his career at South Dakota, Lavin has led the Coyotes to NCC titles five times. Those teams including the 2007-08 Coyotes as well as teams in 2002-03, 1982-83, 1983-84 and 1984-85. All those teams except for the 2002-03 team won outright titles. USD. He has coached seven 20-win teams, including six at South Dakota. Lavin has a record of 270-140 (.659) at South Dakota and an overall coaching mark of 446-300 (.598)

Last time out for the Lady Blues . . .
March 17, 2008 - No. 24 Washburn 73, No. 25 Emporia State 58 • CANYON, Texas -- The Lady Blues reached their fifth NCAA Elite Eight win a 73-58 win over Emporia State in the South Central Regional Finals in Canyon, Texas.
Washburn led 30-22 at the half after hitting 41 percent of their shots while holding the Lady Hornets to 7 of 20 from the field. The Lady Blues went 7:24 without a point after the Lady Blues led 19-8, but ESU cut the lead to 19-17 before Corkey Stiger broke the scoreless streak with a lay up at the 5:01 mark. Stiger scored the next five points to push the lead to seven at 26-19 before taking the eight-point lead into the break.
In the second half, Washburn pushed the lead to 15 at 39-24 with 16 minutes remaining before the Lady Hornets trimmed the lead to five at 39-34 on a free throw by Ida Edwards. After five straight points by Stiger on a jumper and 3-pointer stretched the lead back to 10 at 44-34 with 10:15 left in the game.
After an 8-2 run by ESU, Hope Gregory canned a 3-pointer from the wing with 7:36 left in the game at 49-42. The Lady Hornets came back and cut the lead to three at 52-49 on a 3-pointer by Michelle Stueve with 6:03 left in the game. Janice Bright hit a couple of free throws for the Lady Blues stretching the lead to 55-50.
With 4:20 left in the game and Washburn holding on to a 57-53 lead, Bright hit a lay up and Stiger hit two free throws after a steal pushing the lead to eight at 61-53. Another lay up by Bright stretched the margin to 10 and the Lady Hornets would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.
Stiger, who became only the third Lady Blue to reach 1,000 points in a two-year career, led the Lady Blues with a game-high 31 points. Stiger now has 1,016 in her career and was named the South Central Regional Most Valuable Player. Bright finished with 16 and Amanda Holmes scored 10 points. Holmes also earned all-region honors.
Stueve led the Lady Hornets with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Andrea Leiker scored 10 points.
Washburn finished 45 percent for the game from the field hitting 21 of 47 attempts from the field while holding ESU to 19 of 52 from the field.
ESU outrebounded the Lady Blues 39-28 on the glass.

Washburn/South Dakota series notes . . .
The national quarterfinal meeting will be the second in the series history between Washburn and South Dakota. Washburn won the only meeting on No. 26, 1994 in Warrensburg, Mo., by a score of 68-61.
 
Last Meeting between Washburn and South Dakota . . .
(Nov. 26, 1994) WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Lady Blues scored 25 of their 68 points from the free throw line in a 68-61 win over South Dakota in the Jennies Classic. Washburn shot only 36 percent from the field but hit 9 of 11 free throws in the final 1:46 to hold on for the win. USD shot only 38 percent from the field, but hit 10 of 20 free throws in the game. Shelley Foster led the Lady Blues with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Stacy Neal scored 14 points. Misty Caryl had 10 points and nine rebounds in her third collegiate game and Nikki Olberding had nine points and six rebounds. Natalee Heisler led USD with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Sherri Bitter had 16 with 14 coming in the final five minutes of the game.
 
About South Dakota . . .
The South Dakota women’s basketball team, which is ranked third in NCAA Division II, is making their first Elite Eight  appearance after topping Minnesota State 61-49 at the Dakota Dome. The Coyotes have won 29 straight games and enter the national quarterfinals with a 31-1 record with their only loss at the hands on Adams State on Nov. 23 in their third game of the season.
South Dakota, a member of the North Central Conference, is in their final year of competing as a NCAA Division II school as they are going up to the Division I level next season. South Dakota is the second NCC member the Lady Blues have faced in the national quarterfinals. Washburn fell to North Dakota State on March 21, 1992 in the quarterfinals in Fargo, N.D. 79-51.
USD’s Jeana Hoffman was named the Co-MVP of the league while head coach Chad Lavin was picked as the Coach of the Year.
Jeana Hoffman, who is USD’s sixth NCC MVP, and her sister Jenna were all league selections while Ashley Robinette and Bridget Yoerger were named honorable mention All-NCC. Jenna Hoffman was also named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year while Amber Hegge was the Co-Freshman of the Year.
Jeana Hoffman leads the Coyotes in scoring with a 17.2 ppg average. She has hit 42 percent of her 3-point attempts this season connecting on 115 of 277. Also averaging in double figures for USD is Bredget Yoerger at 11.3 ppg. Yoerger’s 6.9 rebounds per game paces the team. Jenna Hoffman is averaging 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
USD’s Shannon Daly is the only Coyote to play against Washburn. Daly played at Southwest Minnesota State and scored five points before fouling out against Washburn during the 2004-05 season in Honolulu, Hawaii. Washburn won the game 70-49 en route to a 35-2 record and the 2005 national championship.

Last time out for USD . . .
(March 17, 2008) -- VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of South Dakota women’s basketball team, led by a career-high 21 points from Shannon Daly, captured the NCAA Division II Women’s North Central Region Championship with a 61-49 win over Minnesota State. With the victory, the Coyotes will advance to the Elite Eight National Championship in Kearney Neb., on March 26, 27 and 29. It will be the USD women team’s first appearance at the Elite Eight Championships. The Coyotes, ranked third in NCAA Division II, will face 24th-ranked Washburn of the South Central Region in the first game of the tournament. Washburn advanced with a 73-58 decision over Emporia State in Canyon, Texas.
The Coyotes improved to 31-1 on the season by winning for the 29th straight time this season. The Mavericks, which lost to the Coyotes for the fourth straight time this year, ended the season with a 23-9 record.
South Dakota, which won the North Central Conference regular season and tournament titles, won for the 22nd consecutive time at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes broke a three-game losing streak in region finals (1983-84, 1984-85 and 2002-03) with the victory against the Mavericks.
Daly was named the tournament MOP (Most Outstanding Player) and was joined on the all-region team by USD’s Jeana Hoffman. Other members of the all-tournament team included Tiffany Moe and Heather Johnson of Minnesota State as well as Kierah Kimbrough of North Dakota.
Daly, who had 15 points in the first half, made 9-of-13 field goals, including six layups. She scored 37 points in the regional tournament and saved the best performance of her career for the most important night in the program’s history. Daly’s offensive explosion kept a cold-shooting USD team within one point (28-27) of Minnesota State at the halftime break. She was joined in double figures by senior guard Jenna Hoffman with 14 points and nine rebounds. Jeana Hoffman had 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.
The Coyotes shot 40 percent from the field (22-of-55) while Minnesota State hit 39.1 percent (18-of-46). The Mavericks made just 1-of-11 shots from three-point range while USD converted 6-of-19 (31.6 percent). Another key statistic was the Coyotes’ success at the free throw line. USD, which ranked at the bottom of the conference in free throw shooting percentage (68.1 percent), made 11-of-15 free throws for 73.3 percent.
Minnesota State was led in scoring by three players with 11 points, including Alex Andrews, Heather Johnson and Tiffany Moe.
In the victory, the Coyotes broke a school record for points in a season with 2,437 (old record, 2003-04, 2,395).
During the North Central Regional, the Coyotes defeated all three of their regional opponents by double digits (Colorado State-Pueblo, 66-55; Nebraska-Kearney, 59-48; and Minnesota State, 61-49). Defense was the Coyotes’ calling card in the regional as they held two opponents to less than 50 points and the third to 55 points.
While the Coyotes were outrebounded by the Mavericks, 38-29, they committed just eight turnovers while MSU had 17. The Coyotes also had five steals and three blocked shots.
MSU jumped to a quick 4-0 lead (18:34, first half) after Moe hit a jumper from the right side of the lane. South Dakota quickly answered as Bridget Yoerger’s layup provided the Coyotes with a 6-4 advantage at the 16:43 mark.
In a half that featured six tie scores, the momentum shifted back and forth to both teams. A three-pointer by Jenna Hoffman gave USD a 13-10 lead. Then, Daly knocked down a three-point field goal with 6:01 on the clock to give the Coyotes a 24-17 lead. The Mavericks answered the Coyote surge with an 11-2 run to take a 28-26 lead at the 2:13 mark. USD’s Jasmine Mosley hit 1-of-2 free throws to cut MSU’s lead to 28-27 at the halftime break.
The Coyotes, who are now 6-1 when trailing at halftime, opened the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 34-28 lead at the 17:03 mark. During that opening run of the second half, Jeana Hoffman had a three-point basket while Ashley Robinette and Daly also made baskets.
With 13:26 remaining in the game, the Coyotes took an eight-point lead (38-30) on a jumper by Jeana Hoffman. The Mavericks responded with four straight points to cut the lead to 38-34. However, that was as close as MSU would get to the Coyotes.
Jenna Hoffman’s second three-point field goal of the game provided the Coyotes with a 46-37 lead at the 7:02 mark. With 4:53 to go, Jeana Hoffman hit a three-pointer for a 52-38 lead. Then, Yoerger ended any comeback hopes by the Mavericks by knocking down a three-point shot with 3:30 left as the Coyotes opened up a commanding 57-40 lead. When Jenna Hoffman hit a pair of free throws at the 2:53 mark, USD owned a 59-40 lead and the celebration began for the Coyote fans and the team.

Lady Blues in Lee Arena . . .
In their 24th season in Lee Arena, the Lady Blues are 301-56 (.842) overall at home. Washburn won their 300th game against Emporia State on Feb. 23, 2008.
The longest winning streak was 44 games from Dec. 1, 1990 to March 20, 1993.
The Lady Blues have won 35 straight regular season non-conference games in Lee Arena. The last defeat by a non-conference team in the regular season was to Missouri-St. Louis in a 59-51 setback on Dec. 30, 2000.
Washburn is 110-11 (.909) in home games under Ron McHenry. Five of the 11 losses came in his first year on the Lady Blues bench. In the last seven seasons, Washburn is 102-6 (.944).

Lady Blues history . . .
Washburn is 695-326 (.681 in 1,021 games) in its 38th season of intercollegiate action.

WU in the national poll . . .
(March 11) The Washburn Lady Blues dropped to No. 24 in the latest USA Today/ESPN Top 25 WBCA Coaches Poll. Overall, Washburn has received votes in the last 109 consecutive polls and has been in the top 25 in 93 consecutive polls. Washburn was ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll which was released on Oct. 31. The Lady Blues were ranked No. 8 in the final poll of the 2007-08 season after finishing with a 29-4 overall record.

Lady Blues Individual Tip Ins . . .
• Corkey Stiger’s 402 career 3-point attempts is second all-time.
• Stiger’s 250 3-point attempts this season is the highest total on the single-season chart breaking the record of 228 set by Brooke Ubelaker last season.
• Stiger now has 1,016 points becoming the third Lady Blue to reach at least 1,000 points in a two-year career at Washburn joining Jennifer Harris (1,314 points in 69 games) and Kelly Jennings (1,090 in 53 games).
• Stiger’s 87 3-pointers this season is eight shy of Ubelaker’s record of 92 set last season.
• Amanda Holmes is seventh all-time with 277 free throws made and seventh in free throw attempts with 408.
• Holmes is 10th all-time in rebounds at Washburn with 646.
• Holmes’ 116 career blocked shots is third all-time at Washburn needing four to move into sole possession of second place.
• Holmes became only the fourth Lady Blues to record at least 800 points, 500 rebounds, 100 steals and 100 blocks joining Jannica Beam, Laura Mueller and Brenda Shaffer-Dahl.
• Corkey Stiger has averaged 18.3 ppg in the six losses for the Lady Blues. She is the only Washburn player averaging double figures in the four losses. The next highest scorer is Amanda Holmes with 9.3 ppg.

Lady Blues team tip ins . . .
• The Lady Blues have held their opponents under 100 points in 282 consecutive games.
• The Washburn bench is outscoring their opponents bench this season 566 to 486. However in the last seven games, the Washburn reserves have been outscored 95 to 74.
• The 220 3-pointers made by the Lady Blues this season is third on the all-time chart. The team single-season record is 253 set last season.
• The 659 3-point attempts is third on the single-season chart this season. The school record is 732 set during the 2004-05 season when the Lady Blues won the NCAA title.
• The 2,229 points scored this season is the 16th most in school history.
• The 1,259 rebounds is the fifth highest total in school history.
• The Lady Blues’ 100 blocked shots is ninth on the team’s single season chart.

2008 Washburn postseason honors . . .
NCAA South Central Region All-Tournament Team
Corkey Stiger - Regional Most Valuable Player
Amanda Holmes - Regional all-tournament selection

All-MIAA Team
Corkey Stiger - Unanimous First team all-MIAA
Jessica Mainz - Unanimous all-defensive team; MIAA’s Defensive Player of the Year
Amanda Holmes - Second Team all-MIAA

MIAA all-tournament team
Corkey Stiger
Amanda Holmes

WBCA Regional All-American Finalist
Corkey Stiger

Daktronics all-South Central Regional team
Corkey Stiger

Lady Blues in the NCAA tournament notes . . .
• The Lady Blues are 23-10 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Washburn is now 6-1 in their first round NCAA Tournament games under head coach Ron McHenry.
• Washburn is 5-1 in NCAA Tournament in second round under Ron McHenry.
• Washburn is 3-2 in the regional final under McHenry winning in 2003, 2005, 2008 and falling in 2006 and 2007.
• The Lady Blues are 10-3 against teams from the Lone Star Conference in the NCAA Tournament. They are 4-1 against West Texas A&M, 0-1 against Southeastern Oklahoma, 1-0 against Abilene Christian, 3-0 against Angelo State, 1-0 against Central Oklahoma, 1-0 against Midwestern State and 0-1 against Texas A&M-Commerce.
• Washburn is 7-3 in the NCAA Tournament against teams from the MIAA going 2-0 against Central Missouri, 1-0 against Missouri Southern, 0-2 against Missouri Western, 1-0 against Northwest Missouri and 3-1 against Emporia State.
• Washburn is 3-0 in NCAA Tournament games played in Texas.
• Washburn has been in 12 NCAA Tournaments with seven straight counting this year’s tournament.
• Washburn has made five Elite Eight (1992, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2008)
• Washburn has reached two Final Fours (1993, 2005)
• Washburn won the 2005 NCAA Championships.
• All-time in the first round, Washburn is 10-3 winning their last five games.
• The last opening round loss was to Southeastern Oklahoma on March 7, 2002 in a 63-50 defeat in St. Joseph.
• Washburn is 1-3 in the national quarterfinals. Lady Blues head coach Ron McHenry is 1-1 in national quarterfinal games falling 65-53 to Northern Kentucky on March 26, 2003 in St. Joseph, Mo., and winning on March 23, 2005 in Hot Springs, Ark., winning 73-60.

NCAA Elite Eight Schedule . . .
Wednesday, March 26 - Quarterfinals
Noon        Game 1      West vs. Northeast 
2:30 p.m.        Game 2      South Atlantic vs. Great Lakes
6 p.m.        Game 3      South vs. East
8:30 p.m.        Game 4      North Central vs. South Central

Thursday, March 27 - Semfinals
7 p.m.        Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner (Live on ESPNU)
9:30 p.m.        Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner (Live on ESPNU)

Saturday, March 28 - Championship Game
5 p.m.        Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner (Live on ESPN2)