TOPEKA, Kan. --- Seventh-seed Washburn saw its 2016-17 season come to end Tuesday evening with a 68-56 loss to No. 10-seed Southwest Baptist in the MIAA Tournament Opening Round.
 
With the result, the Ichabods close the year at 17-12 overall and secured the tournament's seventh seed with a 10-8 record in conference play. Washburn struggled to keep pace with SBU (16-13) which out it from the field, 46.3 percent to 35.5 percent.
 
The Ichabods started out sluggish allowing SBU to take control behind a 9-0 run. WU began to build momentum midway through the period as a 7-2 run allowed them to come within two, before the Bearcats closed the opening frame with a 6-2 run of their own to take a 17-11 lead.
 
Washburn opened the second with a 7-2 spurt but continued to trail 22-18 at the 6:49 mark. SBU answered with a 9-3 run pushing its lead to double-figures, 31-21, inside of four minutes. The Ichabods trailed at half, 35-31, but closed out the period on 10-4 run.
 
Washburn continued to chip away at the Bearcat advantage throughout the third a 12-4 run gave the Ichabods a slim 45-44 advantage with 3:47 remaining. The WU lead however was quickly erased as SBU reassumed controlled with nine unanswered points and never looked back.
 
Erika Lane paced the Ichabods with 15 points. Jharian Bowen had 14 points and five rebounds while Reagan Phelan scored 13. Erin Dohnalek recorded a game-high eight boards while chipping in with 11 points and three assists. Cindy Demosthene finished with three blocks and seven rebounds.