TOPEKA, Kan. --- The Washburn women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Fort Hays State, 61-60, Saturday evening at Schendel Court at Lee Arena.  With the loss, the Ichabods slipped to 14-8 on the season and are now tied for sixth with the Tigers (16-6) in the MIAA standings at 7-6.
 
Reagan Phelan led all players with 15 points. Phelan also tallied three steals and one assist. Erin Dohnalek finished with 14 points for her fourth consecutive double-figure game while pulling down five rebounds to go with three steals and three assists. Erika Lane dropped in 13 points as she had four assists and seven boards. Alyxis Bowens earned her four double-double of the season as she registered 10 points and 11 rebounds. Bowens also finished with a game-high four steals.
 
Washburn dictated the pace for much of the first half as it led by as much 14 (26-12) at 5:28 mark of the second quarter. In spite of a late 9-4 push by the Tigers the Ichabods went into the break with a 30-21 advantage.
 
Paced by six points from Jharian Bowen the Ichabods sprinted to a 19-point margin, their largest of the evening, to lead 40-21 with 7:27 remaining.
 
Nikola Kacperska then sparked a 26-2 run as Fort Hays State assumed a 47-42 lead with 1:06 left in the period to claim its first lead of the game since the 6:32 mark of the first quarter. During the run, the Tigers made 10-of-12 shots included of 4-of-5 from the 3-point distance.
 
The Ichabods kept the margin to single-figures the rest of the way but it was not enough despite edging out FHSU in shooting 41.4 percentage to 39.2 and holding a 37-29 advantage in rebounds.
 
WU is back in action on Wednesday as it travels to St. Joseph, Missouri to take on Missouri Western in a 5:30 p.m. start.