TOPEKA, Kan. – After falling behind by 10 points in the first quarter, Washburn women's basketball team outscored Southwestern Oklahoma State 23-5 in the second quarter and never trailed again as first-year head coach
Lora Westling and the Ichabods started the season with a 71-55 victory on Friday evening. The Ichabods will wrap up the opening weekend Washburn Crossover Classic on Saturday afternoon against Oklahoma Baptist. Tip-off in Lee Arena is slated for 3 p.m.
Southwestern Oklahoma (0-1) jumped out to a 10-3 lead to start the game and closed out the final 4:17 of the first quarter on an 11-5 run to lead, 21-11.
The Ichabods (1-0) found their groove in the second quarter as they scored the first six points of the frame while holding the Lady Bulldogs scoreless until the 5:59 mark. The Washburn defense drew three offensive fouls during that stretch. Southwestern Oklahoma scored its first points of the frame on an old fashioned three-point play to go up 24-17, but Washburn used a 7-0 run to level the score. SWOSU hit a pair of free throws with 3:43 on the clock before WU ended the opening quarter on a 10-0 tear to take a 34-26 lead into the break.
Washburn would lead for the entire second half and had a 47-35 lead heading into the final period. Back-to-back buckets by
Lizzy Sanders gave Washburn a 14-point lead 45 seconds into the fourth quarter, but an 8-0 rally by SWOSU would trim the lead to six, 51-45. The Ichabods answered with an 8-2 run to go back in front and maintained a double-figure lead for the final 5:47 of the game as Washburn cruised to the 71-55 win.
Mackenzie Gamble and Sanders each scored eight points in the quarter and were responsible for 16 of Washburn's 24 points scored.
The Ichabods made almost half of their shot attempts as they finished the night with a 48.2 field goal percentage (27-of-56) while the Lady Bulldogs shot 32.8 percent from the floor (20-of-61). Washburn won the battle on the glass and outrebounded Southwestern Oklahoma, 38-35. Washburn also had the advantage in the paint, outscoring SWOSU, 30-12.
Nine of the 10 Ichabods that attempted a shot scored during the game. Gamble led four Washburn players in double-figure scoring as she finished with 19 points after going 5-of-7 from behind the arc.
Macy Doebele was 5-for-6 from the field and totaled 11 points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
Aubree Dewey and Sanders chipped in 10 points each.
Morgan Smith led Southwestern Oklahoma with 16 points and seven rebounds.
