WICHITA, Kan. – The Washburn women's basketball team win their first conference game at Newman, 51-40 on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods head back home against Rogers State next Saturday at 4 p.m.
Washburn (2-7, 1-3 MIAA) quickly got things started with back-to-back shots made from Abby Oliver and a triple from Hunter Bentley. The Ichabods led 7-3 before getting into foul trouble. The Jets made four free throws to tie the game. Bentley later would hit back-to-back triples to give Washburn the 15-11 lead. A Laura Bello last-second layup tied it again heading into the second quarter.
Once again Oliver got the Ichabods started in the second to take the 17-15 lead. The Ichabods would not score again in the quarter until the 1:37 mark. It took the Jets almost three minutes before they made a free throw to draw within one then eventually take the 22-17 lead over Washburn. Sanchez ended the Ichabods' drought with a three. The Jets hit a three of their own to end the half to head into the break with the 25-22 lead.
In the third, Washburn got off to a hot start with a 12-2 run. Nuria Barrientos had six points in that span. Oliver scored and Bentley hit her fourth triple to go into the final frame with a 39-31 lead.
The Ichabods kept that momentum going as they took a double-digit lead four minutes into the fourth quarter. Washburn would hold onto that lead for the rest of the game.
Washburn had a 41.7 field goal percentage on the afternoon while Newman shot 37.5 percent. The Ichabods made 6-of-8 free throws despite not taking a one in the first half. A difference in the game was Washburn outrebounded the Jets 32 to 25 and their third-quarter play.
Bentley scored 19 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the floor with four three-pointers. Barrientos earned her first double-double of the season. She scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Oliver contributed to all facets of the game. She scored 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting and grabbed five rebounds, distributed four assists, stole the ball twice, and blocked three shots.
Britney Ho led the Jets with 12 points. She was the only Newman player to have over 10 points.
