ST. JOSEPH --- Trailing by as much as 14 points in the third quarter the Washburn Ichabod women's basketball used a second surge to down Missouri Western State and snap its five-game win streak with 57-55 victory on Wednesday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
Leading by 11 points to start the second half Missouri Western State's (17-6, 9-5 MIAA) Sefulu Faavae 3-pointer gave the Griffons their largest lead of the night as she pushed the score to 36-22 with 9:27 remaining in the third.
 
The Ichabods (15-8, 8-6 MIAA) then began to chip away at the margin as Jharian Bowen and Reagan Phelan combined for a 5-0 spurt. After a MWSU basket made 38-27. Following a pair of made free throws from Phelan WU strung together 13 unanswered points to claim a 40-38 lead, but the advantage lasted just eight seconds as Chelsea Dewey's attempt from deep beat the buzzer making it 41-40 Giffions.
 
During the Washburn run, the Ichabods chewed up 7 minutes and 15 seconds of the third quarter and held Missouri Western 0-for-8 from field as it went 3-of-13 for the period.
 
Behind consecutive layups from Alyxis Bowens Washburn retook the lead (44-43) for the final of the evening with 8:53 left in the fourth quarter. Midway through the period Bowens then added four points of game-high 22 points to help WU take a five-point lead, 52-47 with 4:57 left on the clocks.
 
Missouri Western then trimmed the lead to one as consecutive baskets made it 52-51 at the 4:00 mark. With 3:19 remaining, Phelan was sent to the line after she drove the lane and made her acrobatic shot. Phelan completed the three-point play and bumped the score to 55-51.
 
With 1:03 left Chelsea Dewey knotted the game at 55-55. During the final 37 seconds, Bowen broke nudged WU into the lead after making 1-of-2 in her each of her two trips to the line.
 
Faavae threw up one last shot before the buzzer but it was short hitting the front lip of the basket and collected by Washburn to seal the 57-55 result.
 
Washburn opened the evening in 5-0 hole before scoring nine unanswered points to take a 9-5 lead. Missouri Western then came roaring back with its longest run of the night netting 11 straight to push the score to 18-11. Behind 58.3 percent shooting during the second stanza, the Griffons remained in control for remainder for the half as they took a 33-22 lead.
 
The Ichabods edged out MWSU in rebounds, 26-23. WU shot a season-best 83.3 percent from the charity stripe as it made 20-of-24 attempts. Collectively, Washburn shot 18-for-42 from the field, good enough 42.9 percent and held MWSU 22-for-58 shooting for 39.7.
 
Individually, Bowens led all players with 22 points while Bowen and Phelan each finished with 13. Bowens and Erin Dohanlek pulled down eight rebounds apiece. Dohnalek tied Lane with a game-high four assists each, while recording three steals. This was the eighth time this season the Washburn had three players finish with double-figure contributions and 22^nd time this season.
 
Washburn returns to action on Saturday when it closes out its road schedule with a trip to Northwest Missouri.