TOPEKA, Kan. --- Washburn opens the 2017-18 campaign in Waco, Texas as it faces NCAA Division I powerhouse Baylor in exhibition action. The contest will be the lone preseason match for the Ichabods prior to their season opener on Nov. 10. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from the Ferrell Center.

SCOUTING THE LADY BEARS
Baylor is 1-0 in the preseason as it dismantled follow Division II Tarleton State, 122-44 in an exhibition on Halloween. The Lady Bears, who are ranked No. 3 in the preseason Division I polls, shot 51-72 (70.8 percent) from the field and out rebounded the TexAnns 52-29. Baylor went 33-4 last season and topped the Big 12 conference standings at 17-1. The team returns six letterwinners from a team that reached the NCAA Elite Eight a season ago including starters Kalani Brown (Jr./C) and Kristy Wallace (Sr./G).

EXHIBITION HISTORY
Under head coach Ron McHenry, Washburn is 10-20 all-time in exhibition action including a 4-14 mark when facing opponents from the NCAA Division I level. This is Washburn's first time facing Baylor and only exhibition contest prior to its season opener. 

SEASON REWIND
Washburn finished the 2016-17 campaign at 17-12 overall for its 16th consecutive winning season, while going 10-9 in conference action. The Ichabods earned their 16th straight berth to the MIAA Tournament as the seventh-seed, though fell to No.10-seed Southwest Baptist at home during the opening round. Erica Lane (now Erika Yoder) garnered team MVP honors as she finished the season as team leader in free throw percentage (.825) while distributing a single-season best 99 assists with 3.4 per game. Lane finished her career as Washburn's all-time leader in free throw percentage (.840). Lane was named an All-MIAA Honorable Mention while Alyxis Bowens picked up second team honors she finished with 12.7 points/game, 7.1 rebounds/game, 39 blocks and shot 58.5 percent from the field. On Jan. 12, Ron McHenry became the 23rd women's basketball coach in NCAA Division II history to reach 400 career victories with a win at Northeastern State. McHenry reached the milestone in just 512 games, making him the fastest coach in Division II women's basketball to accomplish the feat.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The 2017-18 roster for the Ichabods features six true freshmen, four sophomores, one redshirt-sophomore, four juniors, one redshirt-junior and one senior. The lineup represents two countries and five states with 11 Ichabods from Kansas (11), two from Arizona and one player from Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa with Belgium being the other country. 

NEW UNI... WHO DIS?
The Ichabods welcome 11 new players into the fold for the 2017-18 campaign including five transfers and six freshman. Transferring to Washburn for this season is Axelle Bernard (Sr./UTEP), Olivia Montague (Jr./Wisconsin-Parkside), Alexis McAfee (So./Wayne State, Neb.) along with Taylor Blue (Jr.) and Denesia Smith (Jr.) both from Pima CC (Ariz.). True freshman include Adyson Narber, Jordan Lenherr, Mackenzie Loe, Hunter Bentley, Katy Heger and Lauren Richter. Shambrey Budd (R-Jr.) will also be a part of this season's lineup after sitting out in 2016-17.

FAMILIAR FACES
Reagan Phelan is the lone returning starter from last season in which she started 28 of 29 and was third on the team in scoring with 11.2 points/game. The Holyrood, Kan., native also averaged 30.6 minutes as a freshman, shot .446 from the field while completing 74-of-94 (.787) attempts from the line. Makayla Vargo (Jr.) appeared in 26 games in 2016-17 coming off the bench to average 12.3 minutes/game and 2.7 points. Cara Donley also returns for her sophomore season after adding 1.4 points in her first go-around last season. Madison Vargo (R-So.) and Hayley Thompson (So.) will provide depth from the bench.

SCHEDULE PREVIEW
Washburn will officially open the season on November 10 against Minnesota State-Mankato in Kansas City as part of the Central Region Challenge held at the historic Municipal Auditorium. The Ichabods will then close against Mary (S.D.) on November 11 as they face the Marauders for the third consecutive season. The home opener is slated four days later as Washburn welcome Nebraska Christian on November 15. Thanksgiving weekend will feature the Parrish Hotels Thanksgiving Classic at Lee Arena as Washburn faces off against St. Cloud State and Truman State. December 6 marks the MIAA opener for the Ichabods as in-state rival Fort Hays State comes to town. A showdown with Benedictine on December 30 will begin a five-game home stand, the longest of the season for the Ichabods. Emporia State visit Lee Arena during that stretch on January 6. Washburn will close the season with a four-game road trip being a visit to White Auditorium on February 13 to conclude the season series with ESU with the season finale coming against Northeastern State on February 24. First round action of the the MIAA Tournament will begin February 26 at campus sites with quarterfinals played on March 1, semifinals on March 3 and the finals slated for March 4, all at Municipal Auditorium.

MIAA PRESEASON POLL
Washburn was projected to finish eighth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.  Central Missouri topped the listed with seven first-place votes. Last season's regular-season champion Pittsburg State garnered four first-place nods as it was placed second. Tournament champion Emporia State was picked third as it received two first-place votes. Central Oklahoma took fourth with one first-place vote, while Fort Hays State rounded out the top five. Missouri Western and Lindenwood were each predicted higher than the Ichabods, taking sixth and seventh respectively. Southwest Baptist and Nebraska-Kearney trailed accordingly with Missouri Southern at No. 11. Northwest Missouri landed at No. 12 with Northeastern State and Lincoln taking the final two spots.

EARLY SUCCESS
Since taking the reins for the 2000-01 season Ron McHenry has put together 12 perfect Novembers, including a 6-0 mark during the 2014-15 season. Washburn has never loss more than two games during the opening month of the season and is 74-9.  

WASHBURN TRADITION
The 2017-18 campaign marks the 49th season of Washburn women's basketball. The program is 886-405-1 all-time, has seen 23 seasons with at least 20 wins, and 17 appearances NCAA Division II Tournament appearances with the 2004-05 team crowned as national champions. From Jan. 26, 2005 to Mar. 11, 2006, Washburn won 51 consecutive games. The streak is the longest in NCAA Division II and sixth all-time in NCAA history.

UP NEXT
Washburn will open the 2017-18 regular season in Kansas City at historic Municipal Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 10 against Minnesota State-Mankato. Tip-off is slated for 6:45 pm.