TOPEKA, Kan. – Washburn was dealt its first home loss of the season on Wednesday, Jan. 13, falling to No. 10 Missouri Western, 69-56, at Lee Arena.
 
WU (10-6, 6-4 MIAA) shot 36.4 percent on field goals and hit 3-of-12 from beyond the arc, while Missouri Western (16-0, 10-0 MIAA) finished 25-of-57 (43.9 percent) from the field with six made three-pointers to remain unbeaten.
 
The Ichabod bench outscored the Griffons, 21-14, and WU won the rebounding battle, 39-36, but couldn't overcome a 12-point deficit after the first quarter in the loss. 
 
Down two, 11-9, with 3:53 to go in the first after a layup from Bowens, WU allowed a 5-0 burst from MWSU over the next minute, and with 18 seconds to go in the quarter, a three-pointer for the Griffons put WU down, 24-12.
 
Inside seven minutes to go in the second, WU scored six unanswered (with four from Bowens) to bring the deficit back to single-digit (28-20) at 4:49. Over the final five minutes, the Ichabods continued to match the Griffons scoring and went into the half down six, 33-27.
 
Felisha Gibbs' jumper at 8:47 and Erika Lane's layup at 7:36 in the third quarter to cut the lead to four on two occasions, but that was as close as Washburn came to overtaking the Griffon lead as MWSU responded with a 7-2 run over the next minute of play.  The lead was stretched back to double-digits before the end of the third quarter, and though WU made it an eight-point game (53-45) early in the fourth, the Griffons held the Ichabods at bay over the final 10 minutes to close out the game.
 
Jayna Smith put together her second career double-double and first of the year, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds on the night.  Alyxis Bowens paced the team in scoring with 15 points, grabbing four rebounds as well (third on the team).
 
Felisha Gibbs just missed a double-double after tallying eight points to go alongside eight rebounds. 

WU is now 1-3 against ranked opponents this season.
 
Washburn is back at Lee Arena on Saturday, Jan. 16 to host Northwest Missouri in its annual White Out game.  Free t-shirts will be available for a limited number of fans with tip off of the women's game set for 5 p.m.