TOPEKA, Kan. --- Despite their second half efforts on Saturday, the Washburn Ichabods closed a five-game homestand on a sour note falling, 62-60, to Central Oklahoma at Lee Arena. The Ichabods' third consecutive loss slides them 12-4 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA.

Trailing 33-21 at the half, Washburn erased the 12-point deficit behind the play of Reagan Phelan and Taylor Blue as the duo each had six points, knotting the game at 33 with 6:46 to remaining in the third. During the run, Phelan and Blue combined for 4 of 5 from the field including 2 of 3 from three-point distance.

The Bronchos, which shot 0-for-7 during Ichabods' opening run, found their rhythm behind a 11-3 run, knocking down 3 of 6 from behind the arc. 

Olivia Montague drained a shot from deep which sparked an Ichabod 7-0 sprut as they trimmed the deficit to 44-43 before closing the period with a 4-3 exchange to start the fourth level at 47.

Washburn battled early in the fourth claiming a lead on three seperate occasions, though not by more than two points. Axelle Bernard gave the Ichabods their first advantage since the 3:04 mark of the opening period as she converted 1-of-2 attempts from the line. Alexis McAfee then gave WU its final two leads, first with a three-pointer to make it, 51-49, then a driving layup to nudge the Ichabods to 53-51 with 5:47 to go.

After Central Oklahoma took a lead, 60-55, Phelan cut the deficit to two as buried a trey from the top of the arc with 1:50 remaining. The Bronchos however doubled the margin as they went to the line on their ensuing possession and converted on both attempts.

After a missed three pointer by UCO, Phelan collected the rebound and quickly moved ball up, where she drove the lane a dropped in a layup to make it 62-60.

Another UCO missed trey was collected by Washburn with 16 seconds and quickly followed with a timeout from the Ichabod bench.

The drawn up play was broken by the UCO defense, as the ball squirted out to McAfee but her three-pointer to win the game was too strong as the effort did not fall allowing the Bronchos to escape with the result.

Washburn started the afternoon slow as UCO sprinted out to a 9-3 run during the game's opening 2:36. The Ichabods responded thoug with a 9-0 run of their own claiming a 12-9 advantage at the 4:05 mark of the period. Washburn struggled for the rest of the half, trailing by as much as 13, as it shot a combined 25.7 percent during the opening two periods, though finished the contest shooting 36.1 percent.

Phelan and McAfee each finished with 13 points. Phelan also tallied a team-high six boards, five steals and four assists while making 5 of 11 from the field. Mackenzie Loe and Blue each followed with nine points apiece.

The Ichabods return to action Wednesday when they travel to Joplin to take on Missouri Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.