Box Score | Season Stats
JOPLIN, Mo. -- The 13th-ranked Washburn Lady Blues never trailed and rolled to an 81-57 win over Missouri Southern on Wednesday night at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Washburn will be back in action on Saturday night against Pittsburg State. Tip-off on Senior Night is set for 5:30 p.m. in Lee Arena.
The Lady Blues (21-3, 15-3 MIAA) grabbed a 9-3 lead in the opening minutes. The Lions (13-11, 7-10 MIAA) used a 6-0 run to tie the game at nine with 15:21 to play in the half, but an 8-0 spurt by Washburn gave the Lady Blues the lead for good. MSSU rallied to within two at 20-18 midway through the half, but an 11-2 run gave Washburn an 11-point advantage with 6:46 to play in the opening stanza. The lead was nine at 34-25 following a Lion bucket, but the Lady Blues closed the half on a 10-0 run to lead 44-25 at the intermission.
Washburn opened the second half on a 12-4 run and led 56-29 with 16:06 to play in the game. The Lady Blues pushed the lead to as many as 30 with 10:08 left in regulation. The lead never dipped below 25 the rest of the way and WU cruised to the 81-57 win. With the win and Pittsburg State's win over Emporia State the Lady Blues are now tied for first in the MIAA with two games to play.
Hope Gregory led the Lady Blues with a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds.
Dayna Rodriguez added 17 points.
Rose Hammond set a new career-high with eight assists. Washburn shot 45 percent, 27-of-60, from the floor, including 10-of-22 for 46 percent from behind the three-point line. The Lady Blues also shot 77 percent, 17-of-22, from the free throw line.
Jasmine Lovejoy and Jolea Apon led Missouri Southern with 12 points apiece.
Washburn out-rebounded MSSU 40-31 and held the Lions to 40 percent from the floor, 21-of-52 and 6-of-19 for 32 percent from behind the arc.
Washburn remained at No. 3 in the NCAA South Central Regional rankings that were released earlier on Wednesday. The four Lady Blues seniors will be honored between the women's and men's games on Saturday night.
