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(Watch above for coach Ron McHenry's reaction after the Lady Blues' win. Watch below for McHenry's reaction to Kinderknecht's peformance.)

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Lady Blues shot 52 percent in the second half to lead to a 76-53 win over Missouri Southern Saturday at Lee Arena.

No. 20 Washburn won its fourth straight game and improved to 13-3 overall and 6-1 in the MIAA. The Lady Blues will resume action Wednesday at Pittsburg State in a 5:30 p.m. game. Missouri Southern fell to 5-9 and 1-7 in the league.

Cassie Lombardino went 6 of 10 from the field to lead Washburn with 14 points. Ebonie Wiliams added 13 points and Tiara George had her third double-figure game in her four appearances this year with 10 points.

George added a team-high eight rebounds and Washburn out-rebounded the Lions 50-26. Laura Kinderknecht, starting her first game this year, also grabbed eight rebounds to give her a career high. Lombardino and Sierra Moeller each had seven rebounds.

The score was tied 29-29 late in the first half but the Lady Blues went on an 11-2 run in the final 4:07 of the half. Casyn Buchman started the run with a 3-pointer and a lay-up from Lombardino was joined by six made free throws for the Lady Blues to give them a 40-31 lead at halftime.

Washburn shot 43 percent in the first half while the Lions were 41 percent. The Lady Blues' second-half effort nearly pushed their shooting percentage above 50 percent for the fifth straight time but they ended just short at 48 percent.

Washburn scored first in the second half to push its lead to double figures and the Lions only got within nine points once more in the game. A 7-0 run gave the Lady Blues a 49-33 lead and a lay-up from Stevi Schultz gave the Lady Blues a 19-point lead at the 8:09 mark.

George's lay-up at the 2:24 mark pushed it to 20 for the first time and Sami McHenry's first field goal of the year was the final points of the day, giving the Lady Blues a game-high 23-point lead.

Kinderknecht made a pair of 3-pointers for eight points. Schultz also added eight and Moeller led the Lady Blues with four assists. George blocked two shots.

The Lady Blues ended the game 28 percent (5 of 18) from 3-point range while the Lions were 29 percent (9 of 31). Washburn shot 68 percent from the free throw line while MSSU made all four of its attempts.

Missouri Southern was led by Kelby Fritz with 13 points and Erin Rice with 11. The Lions shot 32 percent from the field and lost their fifth straight game.