TOPEKA, Kan. – Washburn outscored Missouri Western 18-10 in the final quarter and cut the deficit to eight after trailing by as many as 24 points earlier in the game, but the offensive push was too late after three low-scoring quarters as the Ichabods lost to the Griffons, 57-44, on Saturday. The Ichabods will return to Lee Arena after Christmas break and host Bethany on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.
Missouri Western (8-4, 3-2 MIAA) led from start to finish of the contest as the Griffons scored the first four points of the afternoon and ended the opening quarter on a 5-0 run to go up, 17-9.
The Griffons carried their momentum into the second quarter with 12 unanswered points and held the Ichabods (4-5, 1-3 MIAA) scoreless until the 3:04 mark. Missouri Western took a 35-18 advantage into the break and had held Washburn to a combined 6-of-20 from the field.
Missouri Western used an 8-0 run in third quarter to go up by a game-high 24 points at 47-23 with 4:51 on the clock.
Gabi Artis hit a three-pointer with 1:41 remaining for the final points of the third to make the score 47-26.
In the fourth quarter,
Aubree Dewey hit a jumper with 8:11 on the clock to spark a 7-0 run to make it a 48-33 game. After a pair of Missouri Western free throws, the Ichabods put together an 11-2 rally over the course of three minutes and 27 seconds to trim the deficit to single-digits, 52-44. That would be as close as it got in the final 79 seconds, though, as Missouri Western capped off the win on a 5-0 run.
The Ichabod defense held the Griffons to 21 points less than their season scoring average. Missouri Western ended the game shooting 41.2 percent from the floor while Washburn made just 30.6 percent. The Ichabods made 6-of-17 from three-point range and the Griffons were 5-of-16 from deep. Missouri Western forced 24 Washburn turnovers and converted that into 23 points.
Dewey led the team in three stat categories as she had a team-high 16 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
Mackenzie Gamble added nine points and
Natalia Figueroa was close behind with eight points.
Three Griffons finished in double-figures led by Brionna Budgetts' 14 points. Connie Clarke recorded a double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds.
