BOLIVAR, Mo. --- Paced by a strong second half performance from senior Erin Dohanlek, the Washburn women's basketball team erased a late 10-point deficit to down Southwest Baptist, 62-59, Thursday evening in Bolivar, Missouri. With nine games left in the regular season, the Ichabods improved to 13-6 overall and 6-4 against MIAA opponents.

The first 20 minutes of the evening was a relative chess match as the sides played between an eight-point window that featured eight ties and four lead changes. Washburn controlled the largest margin of the half as back-to-back layups from Alyxis Bowens gave the Ichabods a four-point lead (21-17), before eventually heading into the break with a 28-26 advantage.

Southwest Baptist overpowered WU in the third as it completed 9-of-13 attempts, good for .692 shooting, to outscore the Ichabods 22-12. With a 40-36 lead, the Bearcats went on an 8-2 spurt to create some breathing room pushing the score to 48-38 with 32 seconds left.

The advantage though did not carry into the final period as Dohanlek's last second jumper trimmed the double-digit margin to eight, 48-40, before time expired.

A 3-pointer from Jharian Bowen to start the period also sparked a 14-5 run for the Ichabods that lasted just shy of six minutes. In addition to Bowen WU received scoring contributions by Cindy Demosthene and Bowens. Though the run was sustained by Dohnalek who tallied six of 13 second-half points guiding the Ichabods to a 54-53 lead with 4:02 remaining.

The lead however was not enjoyed for long as SBU reassumed control following a three-point play from Morgan Henderson as she was fouled on her layup bucket, 56-54.

Trailing 58-57 with 2:55 remaining, Washburn took its final lead of the evening as Bowens fed Dohnalek for the layup as the Ichabods accounted for five of the final six points.

With 13 points in the second half and five in the first Dohnalek led all players in scoring as she finished with a career-best 18 points. Washburn also received double-figure contributions from Bowens and Bowen with 12 apiece, while Erika Lane followed with 10. Along with her scoring effort, Bowens pulled down a game-high 11 boards for her second double-double of the season. Lane meanwhile also had a game-high as she distributed seven assists.

As a team, Washburn edged out SBU in both points in the paint (30-28) and second-chance points (14-11). The Bearcats meanwhile outrebounded WU, 38-35 and where more efficient from the charity stripe as they converted 80 percent (12-15) to the Ichabods' mark of 53.3 (16-30).

Washburn will return to action on Saturday evening as it scoots over to Warrensburg, Mo., to take on Central Missouri with tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.