ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Washburn women's basketball squad struggled against Missouri Western and fell, 69-39, on the road Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods closed out the regular season with an overall record of 17-11 while going 11-8 in MIAA play. Washburn will play next at the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday, March 4, as the No. 8 seed taking on the No. 9 seed Missouri Southern. Tip-off at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., will be at noon.

Both teams were held scoreless for the first two minutes of the game until Hunter Bentley converted on an old-fashioned three-point play. The Griffons answered with a three-pointer to start a 7-2 scoring run. Back-to-back layups by Alexis McAfee and Bentley put Washburn back in front, 9-7, midway through the period. Missouri Western, however, ended the opening quarter on an 8-0 burst to take a 15-9 lead into the second.

A 9-2 run by Washburn got the game within three, 21-18, with 4:46 left in the opening half, but the Ichabods would score only one more basket in the half while the Griffons put up 10 points in that time. Missouri Western took a 31-20 lead into the break shooting 36.7 percent (11-of-30) from the field and 3-for-11 from three-point land while Washburn shot 34.8 percent (8-of-23) and made 1-of-7 from deep.

Washburn opened the second half with two baskets in a row to cut the deficit to single-digits at 31-24. Missouri Western didn't score their first bucket of the second half until the 6:38 mark, but they went on to score eight unanswered points to retake a double-figure lead they would hold for the remainder of the game. 

The Griffons outscored the Ichabods, 17-7, in the final quarter for the 30 point win. 

Missouri Western finished the day shooting 39.7 percent (23-of-58) from the floor and 7-of-21 from beyond the arc. Washburn had a 31.3 field goal percentage (15-for-48) and made just one three-pointer, going 1-for-14. The Griffons forced 22 Ichabod turnovers and converted those into 20 points. Washburn won the rebound battle, 38-35.

Piggie paced the Ichabods with 11 points. Bentley added nine points and had eight rebounds. McAfee grabbed a team-high 10 boards and dished out all three Washburn assists.

Four Griffons finished in double-figures, led by Corbyn Cunningham's 17.

MIAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, March 4
Women's Game 1 - No. 8 Washburn vs No. 9 Missouri Southern - 12 p.m. 
Women's Game 2 - No. 7 Central Oklahoma vs No. 10 Northwest Missouri - 2:15 p.m.

Thursday, March 5
Women's Game 3 - No. 1 Central Missouri vs Winner of No. 8/No. 9 - 12 p.m.
Women's Game 4 - No. 2 Emporia State vs Winner of No. 7/No. 10 - 2:15 p.m.

Friday, March 6
Women's Game 5 - No. 4 Pittsburg vs No. 5 Fort Hays State - 12 p.m.
Women's Game 6 - No. 3 Nebraska Kearney vs No. 6 Missouri Western - 2:15 p.m.

Saturday, March 7
Women's Game 7 - Semifinal (Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 5) - 12 p.m.
Women's Game 8 - Semifinal (Winner Game 4 vs Winner Game 6) - 2:15 p.m.

Sunday, March 8
Women's Game 9 - Championship (Winner Game 7 vs Winner Game 8) - 1 p.m.