TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Washburn women's basketball team led from start to finish in a 61-50 victory at Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods will be back in action on Monday with a matinee makeup game at Rogers State starting at 1:30 p.m. in Claremore, Okla.
The Ichabods (10-10, 8-6 MIAA) scored six unanswered points to start the game held a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Hunter Bentley scored 10 points in the opening frame and made all four of her shot attempts.
The RiverHawks (4-17, 2-13 MIAA) pulled within two points on three occasions in the second quarter, but a jumper from Bentley midway through the period sparked a 10-2 run to push Washburn's lead to double-figures. Northeastern State closed out the quarter making two free throws, but still trailed the Ichabods at the break, 32-24.
Washburn led by as many as 13 in the third quarter before Northeastern State scored the final four points to trim the deficit to 43-34 heading to the final stanza.
The Ichabods opened the fourth quarter on another 10-2 spurt to go up 53-36 with 6:28 left in the game. Northeastern State was unable to get within single digits for the remainder of the game as Washburn rolled to the 11-point win.
Washburn shot an even 50 percent from the field and made 7-of-15 from three-point range while limiting Northeastern State to 30.2 field goal percentage and 6-of-21 from deep. The Ichabods outrebounded the RiverHawks, 31-26, and led in blocks, 6-0.
Bentley made history for Washburn during the game as she passed Shelley Foster (1991-95) to become the program's all-time leader in minutes played with 3,982. She finished the day making 10-of-14 from the field with four three-pointers to lead the Ichabods with 24 points. Bentley also grabbed six rebounds and did not commit a turnover in 38 minutes of playing time.
Abby Oliver was 5-for-7 from the floor and dished out a team-best five assists.
Mackenzie Gamble drained three triples to tally nine points and
Macy Doebele added seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Maleeah Langstaff paced the RiverHawks with 16 points and seven rebounds.
