TOPEKA, Kan. --- The Washburn women's basketball snapped a season-long three-game slide in its regular season finale on Saturday with an 81-69 victory over Northeastern State. With the result, the Ichabods improved to 17-11 on the year and secured the seventh-seed in next week's MIAA tournament with a conference mark of 10-8.
 
Jostling for control early, WU eventually grabbed the lead for good midway through the first as back-to-back three-pointers from Jharian Bowen made it 13-7. The Ichabods then claimed their first double-digit lead early during the second period as Reagan Phelan, Erin Dohnalek and Bowen combined for a 7-0 spurt to push the score to 22-12.
 
Northeastern State answered back with a 9-1 run and cutting the margin to 23-21 midway through the stanza. That however was the closest NSU came as a 7-0 sprint before the end of the half to extend Washburn's margin to 37-25 as it went into the break.
 
After dipping in single-figures with a 7-4 NSU run to start the third frame, Washburn reinflated its advantage behind 11 unanswered points to assume its largest lead of the afternoon at 52-32. The run, which lasted, three minutes 24 seconds, was fueled by six points from Phelan, who finished the game with 18.
 
Beginning the final period with a 56-43 lead, the Ichabods pushed the score to 63-46 early as Bowen and Lane combined for a 7-3 spurt. The WU flurry was capped with Bowen's fifth three-pointer of the day pushing her to a new career-high of 21.
 
NSU reduced the Ichabod margin to single-figures for the last time as its leading scorer, Cailyn Long made it 71-63 inside three minutes. WU however then responded with eight unanswered making it 79-63 before settling at 81-69 when time expired.
 
Paced by five double-figure scorers the Ichabods eclipsed 50 percent shooting for the seventh time this season completing 30-of-53 attempts from the field for a mark of .566. In addition to the outing from Bowen and Phelan, Dohnalek finished with 16 while Lane and Cindy Demosthene had 12 and 11 respectively. Dohnalek also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds. Lane also distributed a team-best five assists.
 
WU's season continues on Tuesday evening as it hosts No. 10-seed Southwest Baptist in the opening round of the MIAA Women's Basketball Championship. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.