Box Score | Season Stats | Photos
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 2 ranked Washburn Lady Blues made their first appearance on New Year's Eve a good one as they topped Fort Hays State 77-58 in Lee Arena. Washburn, who is now 12-0 and 5-0 in the MIAA, will play host to Central Missouri on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
It was a scoring duel early as Washburn's
Janice Bright scored the first 10 points for the Lady Blues and Fort Hays State's Naomi Bancroft scored six of the first 10 for the Tigers. However Washburn would break the game open using a 17-1 run over the next 10-plus minutes gaining a 27-17 lead with 3:09 to play in the first half. The Tigers' Bancroft would hit one of her seven 3-pointers to cut the lead to seven, but Washburn scored on a swipe and bucket taking a 29-20 lead into the break.
In the second half, Washburn shot a blistering 59 percent from the field in the second half hitting 17 of 29 shots including 8 of 14 from 3-point range stretching the lead to as many as 25 in the half leading to the 19 point win.
Bright led the Lady Blues with a career-high 24 points hitting 9 of 12 shots from the field including a 6 of 7 performance from 3-point range.
Hope Gregory came off the bench to record a career-high of her own scoring 15 points hitting 6 of 9 shots from the field including 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
Bancroft finished with 23 points to lead Fort Hays State and Audra Binford scored 10.
Washburn held a 39 to 31 advantage on the glass recording 14 offensive rebounds leading to 10 second chance points. Washburn also outscored the Tigers 32 to 14 in the paint and 34 to 6 in bench points.
Washburn finished 29 of 63 from the field hitting 46 percent for the game and the Tigers were 21 of 55 for 38 percent.
Notes:
* Washburn now leads the series with Fort Hays State 36-25.
* The Lady Blues have now won 14 straight home games.
* Washburn is 1-0 all-time on New Year's Eve.
* Washburn improved to 48-4 all-time under head coach
Ron McHenry in the month of December.
* Washburn has now won 11 straight over Fort Hays State and the last six games in Topeka.
* The Lady Blues used all 16 players who suited up for the game.
