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TOPEKA, Kan. -- The 15th-ranked Lady Blues scored the first 12 points of the game and never looked back in an 80-63 win over Northwest Missouri on Wednesday night in Lee Arena. Washburn returns to the court on Saturday night at Missouri Western at 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Blues (15-3, 9-3 MIAA) led 16-1 four minutes into the game and extended their lead to as 22 in the first half, before leading by 20, 38-18, at the break. Washburn shot nearly 52 percent from the field in the first half and connected on 6-of-11 three-point attempts, while holding the Bearcats (10-9, 6-6 MIAA) to 17.6 percent shooting, 6-of-34, and 1-of-9 from behind the arc.

Northwest Missouri battled back in the second half going on a 20-7 run to cut the lead to single digits at 47-38. Hope Gregory sparked a quick 7-0 run, with four of her career-high 16, to push the lead back to 16, but the Bearcats came right back with a 9-0 run and the lead was seven at 54-47 with 8:49 remaining in the game. A 13-5 spurt by Washburn lengthened the lead yet again to 15. The lead grew to 20 with under a minute to play before the Lady Blues settled for the 17-point victory.

Brette Ulsaker led Washburn with a career-high 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including three treys. Gregory pulled down nine rebounds to go along with her 16 points, while Dayna Rodriguez and Stevi Schultz chipped in 15 and 13, respectively.

Shelly Martin led the Bearcats with 23 points and Abby Henry had 19. Gentry Dietz added 10 points and 10 boards as the Bearcats out-rebounded WU 45-37.

Washburn shot 44 percent, 23-of-52, for the game and 48 percent, 10-of-21, from behind the arc. The Lady Blues held NWMSU to 32 percent shooting, 20-of-63, from the floor and 44 percent, 8-of-18, from three-point range.

The win was Washburn's fourth straight in the series with Northwest Missouri and the 26th straight win for the Lady Blues over the Bearcats in Lee Arena.

Before the game, the NCAA released its first set of Regional Rankings. The Lady Blues were ranked fourth in the South Central Region. West Texas A&M is ranked first followed by Emporia State and Northeastern (Okla.) State. The only other MIAA team in the rankings was Fort Hays State at No. 7.