Washburn University’s Lady Blues basketball team extended its winning streak to five this past week, first defeating the Missouri Southern State University Lions at home last Thursday, 70-56, then heading out on the road to best the Pittsburg State University Gorillas on Saturday, 64-47.

“Obviously, they’re always a tough team,” said junior guard Stevi Schultz of the Pink Out Game against MSSU.  “It was kind of a grind-out game. We didn’t really pull ahead of them until the end of the game.  It was kind of, not really neck and neck, but they hung in their pretty much the whole game until the end.”

Cassie Lombardino, junior forward, led the Lady Blues with 16 points and 11 rebounds against the Lions. Schultz mentioned tough competition from Lions players such as Jasmine Lovejoy, senior guard, and Erin Rice, sophomore forward, who went for 18 and 30 points respectively against the Lady Blues the last time the two teams met.

“You have to be able to contain [Lovejoy],” said Schultz.  “Erin Rice usually gets going.  The first time we played them, she got 30 points on us, but she got hurt in the second half.  Luckily, we got Lovejoy in foul trouble.  That helped us out.”

The Lady Blues had a more successful run against the Gorillas, dominating most of the game. Schultz led the Lady Blues with 25 points and 10 rebounds going 10-15 from the floor including 4-7 from behind the arc.

“We just went down there and kind of took care of business, basically,” said Schultz.  “We got into some foul trouble against Pitt, but our bench came out and did real good.  They played better than they have pretty much all season

 

Ron McHenry, head coach, has stated before how every win matters in the month of February.  With only two more games left in the regular season with rival Emporia State University tonight at home for Senior Night and Lincoln University on Saturday, the team is all business.

“We have a chance to go through the season and win every home game,” said McHenry.  “A team that can do that is good and has done what they need to do.  Everything’s important, regional rankings, conference, there’s just a lot of things going on where you can’t catch up with two games left.”

McHenry has an encouraging outlook heading into the twilight of the season, as it will be the last time seniors Alyssa Mullen and Rachel Boling play in Lee Arena. There is incentive to play well for the seniors and to defeat a rival. McHenry is proud of the way the Lady Blues have played hard together throughout the season.

“It’s a positive feeling right now, sure,” said McHenry.  “I know the girls that are seniors want to go out the right way.”