JOPLIN, Mo. --- After a setback last Saturday, the Washburn Ichabods bounced back in style on Wednesday as the women's basketball team trounced Missouri Southern, 90-59, in Joplin. Behind balanced attack and red hot shooting, Washburn never trailed in the contest and improved to 12-5 on the year and 7-1 in MIAA play.
 
With eight different scorers and .568-clip from the field, Washburn dominated the first half for a 48-27 lead at the break. The Ichabods converted on 21-of-37 attempts from the field and went 4-for-6 from three-point land. The domination carried into second half as Washburn continued to pour in the offense, knocking down 16-of-32 from the field with 6-of-13 from deep. 
 
Washburn lead 14-8 midway through the first before sprinting past the Lions (11-8, 3-6 MIAA) as it put together a 10-2 run during the final 4:35 of the frame. Shelbe Piggie shouldered the load during the run accounting for six points with Denesia Smith making up the balance. The Ichabods stretched the margin to 14 early in the second with the defense holding Missouri Southern scoreless for the opening 2:28 of the frame.
 
Taylor Blue led the Washburn efforts with 10 points and a six rebounds, while Reagan Phelan netted nine and three assists during opening 20 minutes.
 
Washburn continued to thrive during the opening minutes of the third period pushing the advantage to 29 thanks in part to a 12-2 run. The stretch lasted 2:40 with Alexis McAfee leading the effort with five points as the Ichabods went 5-for-6 from the floor and making 2-of-3 from deep.
 
The Lions then went on lengthy Washburn 22-8 run, trimming the Ichabod advantage the 68-53 at the 9:00-mark of the fourth. The elongated stretch saw MSSU complete 7-of-11 chances from field and 5-of-6 from long range during the third frame.
 
In the fourth, Blue and Phelan then combined for a 10-2 run, pushing the Washburn advantage to 23. Blue sparked the run with a jumper at 7:57, with Phelan adding a pair from the line. The duo notched a pair of three-pointers, sandwiching a MSSU layup, giving WU a 78-55 lead with 5:35 remaining before closing the game on a 12-2 run during the final 5:08 for a 90-59 victory.

Blue and Phelan each finished 4-for-6 from behind the arc with Alexis McAfee going 2-for-5 as the Ichabods notched a season-high 10 three-pointers. Blue led all Washburn scorers with 22 points and pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. She was 8-for-17 from the field.  Phelan tallied 20 points behind 7-for-10 shooting and dished out a game-high seven assists. McAfee meanwhile chipped in for 13, while Hunter Bentley added 10.

In addition to the scoreboard, Washburn finished with hefty margins in paint points, 34-20; rebounding, 40-27; and points of turnovers, 26-6.

Washburn will return to action Saturday when it visits No. 23 Pittsburg State. Tip-off between the Ichabods and Gorillas is set for 1:30 pm.