HAYS, Kan. -- The Washburn women's basketball team held a four point lead after the first quarter, but the No. 14-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers outscored the Ichabods 24-9 in the third quarter and went on to capture the 59-40 MIAA Tournament semifinal victory on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, Washburn's season comes to a close with an overall record of 12-12 (11-11 MIAA).

The No. 3 seed Lopers (21-3, 19-3 MIAA) advance to Sunday's championship game against the top-seed and No. 5-ranked Fort Hays State.

The Ichabods started out strong as they made 9-of-14 from the field (64.29 percent) in the opening quarter to take an early 20-16 lead.

Both offenses went cold in the second quarter and just 13 combined points were scored between the two programs. The Lopers closed out the first half on a 7-2 scoring run to take a 25-24 lead into the break.

Aubree Dewey scored the first basket of the second half at the 8:21 mark before the Lopers took control of the game, rattling off 11 unanswered points to go in front, 36-26, midway through the third quarter. Nebraska-Kearney scored the final five points of the period to go up, 49-33.

Washburn was unable to cut the deficit to back down to single digits as Nebraska-Kearney defense stood strong and held on for the win.

The Ichabods shot 36 percent from the field and made just 2-of-10 from three-point range while the Lopers had a 44.2 field goal percentage and went 6-for-16 from deep. UNK edged out WU in rebounding, 33-28, and both teams scored 11 points off of turnovers.

Dewey was 8-for-14 from the field and had a team-high 16 points and dished out three assists. Nuria Barrientos added seven points and five boards.

Three Lopers scored double-digits led by Elisa Backes with 16 points to go with five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.