TOPEKA, Kan. – The Ichabods erased a 10-point deficit in the second half and then outscored Nebraska-Kearney by seven in overtime to win 68-61 Thursday night at Schendel Court in Lee Arena.
 
Washburn improved to 14-5 overall and 6-5 in the MIAA while the Lopers fell to 11-9 and 5-6. The Ichabods will host sixth-ranked Pittsburg State Saturday at 5 p.m. in a Go Blue game. Fans are encouraged the wear blue or arrive early and get a free blue shirt. America's Got Talent finalist Spin-tacular will return and perform during halftime.
 
Taylor Ignoto hit a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining in regulation to put the Ichabods up 55-52. UNK's Laramey Lewis then hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left to tie the game and Casyn Buchman missed a shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
 
The Ichabods made their first two field goal attempts in the overtime to go up by four and then they used the free throw line the remainder of the game to win it. They shot 9 of 10 from the line in the overtime with Ignoto hitting four shots and Ally Nikkel hitting three. Nikkel's free throw with 33 seconds left gave the Bods a seven point lead and the Lopers turned the ball over on their final possession.
 
Buchman led the Ichabods with 14 points as she was 5 of 13 from the field with four made 3-pointers. Honor Duvall scored 12 points off the bench with a 6-of-9 performance and Ignoto reached double figures with 10 points as she was 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Jayna Smith scored eight points and led Washburn with nine rebounds. Nikkel had eight points and a team-high four assists.
 
The Ichabods shot just 25 percent in the first half. They took a brief lead by a point but Nebraska-Kearney scored eight straight after that to lead by seven, 28-21 at the break.
 
The Lopers shot 44 percent in the opening period and improved to 48 percent in the second half. Washburn shot 43 percent in the second half but had just five turnovers in the period while UNK had 12.
 
Washburn trailed by 10, 36-26 with 14:57 left in the second half but went on an 18-3 run to go up by five and hold the lead until UNK's 3-pointer near the end of regulation tied the game.
 
The Lopers ended the game 45 percent from the field but with 21 turnovers. Washburn shot 35 percent and turned the ball over just nine times. The Ichabods also claimed an advantage at the free throw line, making 16 of 22 shots (73 percent), while UNK was 5 of 10 (50 percent) in the game.

Amarah Williams led the Lopers with 25 points. She shot 12 of 16 from the field. She and Alexa Hogberg had double-doubles as the UNK starters accounted for all the scoring and 29 of the 40 rebounds. The Lopers used just three players off the bench.