WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Washburn built an early double-digit lead and hung on late for a 59-54 road win over Central Missouri on Wednesday, Jan. 27.
 
WU (12-7, 8-5 MIAA) snapped a two-game losing streak to Central Missouri (7-11, 6-7 MIAA) while shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from long range.  Both teams were plauged by turnovers throughout with 18 apiece, through returned to its spot atop the rebounding battle, winning 41-37.
 
WU lit the nets on fire in the opening five minutes, rolling out to a 13-3 lead before UCM called a timeout with 5:26 to play, pausing a 10-0 run for the Ichabods that included three-pointers from Erika Lane and Julie Ravn. 
 
Just less than a minute later, UCM stopped the run with a layup from Ashley Duffy, but Washburn held the Jennies scoreless for over four minutes of play early in that span.  UCM closed the gap quickly, however, but another push late from the Ichabods helped them lead, 21-16, at the break.
 
The torrid pace held up early on in the second, though both teams found themselves struggling at the net early before Washburn pulled away late before break, taking a 32-23 lead into the half with seven unanswered to end the period.
 
UCM charged hard in the third, cutting the lead to two (34-32) with a 9-2 rally over the first four minutes of play before WU slowed the attack and went to the final period up four, 40-36.
 
The opening minutes of the fourth saw the Jennies again charge, but with 6:51 to play Pfau hit a three-pointer off an assist from Lane to put WU back up seven, 46-39.  Erin Dohnalek hit her first field goal of the night just over a minute later to push WU's lead to eight (49-41), but the Jennies refused to go away and once again brought the game within three (49-46) before Jayna Smith sunk a pair of free throws with 1:07 to go. That proved to be enough as WU hung on over the final minute for the win.
 
Pfau led the Ichabods with a new career-high in scoring, finishing with 16 behind four three-pointers.  Ravn added two more three-pointers to finish with nine, and Alyxis Bowens and Cindy Demosthene each had eight points.
 
On the boards, Dohnalek and Jayna Smith had eight rebounds as Lane grabbed seven (to go with six assists) and Bowens added six with two blocks and three steals.
 
The Ichabods travel to Bolivar, Mo., on Saturday, Jan. 30 for the second matchup of the season against Southwest Baptist.  Washburn won the first matchup against the Bearcats, 68-55.