Box Score | Season Stats | Photos


TOPEKA, Kan. -- The 15th-ranked Lady Blues built a 16-point second half lead then held off the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks 63-55 to end a three-game losing streak. Washburn returns to action on Wednesday night against Northwest Missouri State. Tip-off in Lee Arena is set for 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Blues (14-3, 8-3 MIAA) didn't make their first field goal until the 17:05 mark of the first half and fell into an early six point hole. A 12-2 run by Washburn put the Lady Blues in front for good at 14-10 with 12:53 to play in the opening period. WU extended the lead to seven with just over six minutes to play on a pair of Dayna Rodriguez free throws. The Mavericks (10-8, 5-6 MIAA) cut the lead to two with just over three minutes to play in the half, but the Lady Blues ended the period on a 7-1 run and led 30-22 at the break.

Two quick buckets by Rodriguez to open the second half gave Washburn a 12 point lead at 34-22. UNO went on a 13-4 over the next 6:23 to cut the lead to three at 38-35. The Lady Blues responded with a 7-0 run to push the lead back to 10. After the Mavs got the lead back to six at 46-40, WU used a 10-0 run to open their biggest lead at 56-40 with 2:59 to play. A 14-4 run by Nebraska-Omaha cut the lead to six with 30 seconds to play, but the Lady Blues iced the game from the free throw line.

Rodriguez led Washburn with 23 points, tying her career-high, and eight rebounds. Hope Gregory added 13 points and Brette Ulsaker had 11. The Lady Blues shot just 34 percent from the floor, 18-of-53, and 21.4 percent from behind the three point line, 3-of-14.

Alyssa Green led UNO with 17 points, while Ashley Nelson added 11. The Mavericks shot 36 percent, 20-of-56, from the floor and 22 percent, 4-of-18, from three.

The Lady Blues forced 22 turnovers, but committed 18 of their own and were out-rebounded 40-38 by the Mavs. WU did have 13 steals, including four by Stevi Schultz.