Box Score | Season Stats

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The No. 8 Washburn knocked off Pittsburg State in John Lance Arena 85-61 improving to 14-3 and 6-2 in the MIAA. With the win, Washburn remains in a first-place tie in the MIAA standings with Northwest Missouri at 6-2 in league play. It was the 14th straight win over the Gorillas for the Lady Blues and the seventh straight win in Pittsburg. Washburn will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 30th in Lee Arena against Missouri Southern.
The Lady Blues opened the game 1 of 7 from the field, but closed the half hitting 13 of 27 building a 41-25 lead after the first 20 minutes.
The Lady Blues' were led in the half by Janice Bright who scored 13 points in the half hitting 5 of 5 field goal attempts including all three 3-point attempts. She also added five rebounds and two assists. Bright missed the final 7:41 of the Southwest Baptist game after suffering a fall going up for a rebound.
Karla Tailele scored eight off the bench hitting 2 of 3 3-pointers.
With Washburn holding an 11-point lead 1:29 into the second half, the Lady Blues turned on a 27 to 8 run over a ten-minute span in the second half turning a 41-30 game at the 18:31 mark of the second half into a 68-38 lead with 8:41 to go in the game.
Washburn would go on to push the lead to as many as 31 in the second half cruising to the 24-point win.
Bright finished with a career-high 22 topping her previous high of 20 in the season opener against Southwestern (Kan.) in the season opener. Bright also had a game-high eight rebounds finishing 8 of 10 from the field and 4 of 5 from 3-point land.
Tailele tied her career-high of 13 hitting 5 of six shots from the field while connecting on 3 of 4 3-pointers.
Amanda Holmes finished with 12 points dialing up 7 of 9 free throws.
Pitt State's Liz Witte led the Gorillas with 17 points.
Washburn finished 29 of 63 from the field hitting 46 percent. The Lady Blues were 12 of 28 from 3-point range and dropped in 15 of 21 free throw attempts.
The Gorillas shot an opponent season-high 24 of 51 from the field (.471). The Gorillas also hit 10 of 22 3-point attempts and were 3 of 6 from the free throw line.
Washburn outrebounded the Gorillas 37 to 26 including a 14 to 4 advantage on the offensive glass creating a 15 to 2 advantage in second chance points.

Notes: Washburn now leads the all-time series with the Gorillas 42-24 … Washburn has won the last 14 in the series overall … the 85 points was a season-high … Washburn has won the last seven games in Pittsburg … Janice Bright has led the Lady Blues in rebounding the last two game … the Lady Blues Brette Ulsaker missed the game with a stress fracture in her foot … 12 of the 13 Lady Blues in uniform scored at least one point … the Lady Blues had a season-low four turnovers.