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TOPEKA, Kan. -- The fourth-ranked Lady Blues built a big second half lead then held on for an 82-79 win over Northwest Missouri State on Saturday night at Lee Arena. The Lady Blues are back in action on Wednesday night at home against Fort Hays State.

Back-to-back three pointers by Laura Kinderknecht and Alyssa Mullen got Washburn (6-0, 2-0 MIAA) off to a good start. The Lady Blues built the lead to eight before a 14-2 run by the Bearcats (4-2, 0-2 MIAA) gave NWMSU a 21-17 lead with 10:34 to play in the half.

Northwest Missouri led 32-28 with 4:32 to play in the period, but the Lady Blues used a 10-0 run to grab the lead and WU went into the half with a 41-39 lead.

An 8-2 run out of the break gave Washburn an eight-point lead with 18:50 to play in the game. After a Bearcat three-pointer cut the lead to five the Lady Blues went on a 17-3 run to open a 66-47 lead with 12:46 to play in the game.

Northwest Missouri responded with a 24-5 run to tie the game at 71 with 4:52 to play in the game. Washburn led by four 76-72 with 2:56 remaining before a 7-2 by the Bearcats put them back in front 79-78 with 54 ticks on the clock. Mullen scored on a lay-in to put WU back in front for good at :30 and Megan Lassley knocked down a pair of free throws with three seconds left to give Washburn the final margin.

Stevi Schultz led Washburn and tied her career high with 18 points, while Mullen set a new career-high for the third straight game with 17 points, she also had a team-high eight rebounds as did Schultz.

Cassie Lombardino had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Kinderknecht chipped in 13 and tied her career-high with five assists.

Washburn shot 43 percent from the floor, 29-of-67 and were 9-of-29 from behind the three point line. NWMSU shot 48 percent from the field, 29-of-61 and were 11-of-23 from three-point range.

The Lady Blues out-rebounded the Bearcats 40-34 and dished out 21 assists to 13 for NWMSU.