Box Score | Season Stats

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The ninth-ranked Lady Blues built a double digit lead in the first half, but went cold from the field down the stretch and fell 71-63 to 23rd-ranked Northwest Missouri on Wednesday night at Bearcat Arena. The loss drops Washburn to 14-3 overall and 10-3 in the MIAA and into second place in the conference standings.

The Bearcats (15-2, 11-2 MIAA) scored the first four points of the game and 10 of the first 14 to open a six-point lead with 16:34 left in the opening half. A layup by Stevi Schultz jump started the Lady Blues as they went on a 14-0 run capped off by another Schultz layup and WU led 20-10 with 10:42 to play in the half.

Washburn extended the lead to 11 a couple of times, the last being 30-19 with 5:07 to play, but Northwest Missouri closed the half on a 10-3 run and the Lady Blues led 33-29 at halftime.

NWMSU opened the second half on a 13-3 run and grabbed a 42-36 lead with 15:37 to play in the game. A quick 7-0 run put Washburn back in front 43-42 only to see the Bearcats regain the lead with a trey of their own. A jumper from Cassie Lombardino tied the game at 45-45 with 13:08 to play.

Northwest went back in front on a three point play from Abby Henry, but again Washburn responded with a quick 7-0 run to go back in front 52-48 with 10:06 to play. The game see-sawed back and forth with four more ties, the last being 61 apiece with 5:44 to play in the game.

Northwest took the lead for good with 5:02 to play on a pair of Henry free throws. NWMSU would go on a 10-0 run before a layup by Alyssa Mullen with just seven seconds remaining made it 71-63.

Schultz led all scorers and tied her career-high 26 points. She added a team-high 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Lombardino and Megan Lassley were the next highest scorers for the Lady Blues with eight points each.

Washburn struggled from the field shooting just 35 percent (24-of-69), while making 7-of-22 from behind the three-point line for 32 percent. WU was 8-of-10 from the charity stripe and out-rebounded the Bearcats 48-39, including 20 offensive rebounds.

Henry led three Bearcats in double figures with 20. Gabby Curtis had 15 and Gentry Dietz added 11. Kyla Roehrig had a game-high 12 rebounds. Northwest shot 42 percent (26-of-62) from the floor and were 7-of-18 for 39 percent from beyond the arc. NWMSU was 12-of-18 from the foul line and forced 17 Lady Blues turnovers.