ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Washburn kept it close through the first half but a hot-shooting last 20 minutes by Missouri Western gave the Griffons a 98-78 win at home. The Ichabods return to Topeka for one last game of 2023 against Northeastern State at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19.  

Both teams got off to hot starts offensively going back and forth. Mackenzie Gamble knocked in a layup with 4:44 left in the quarter to give her seven quick points and put Washburn (7-3, 2-2) up 12-9. Less than a minute of game time later Missouri Western (8-3, 4-2) tied the game at 14. They continued the hot start, shooting 9-13 in the quarter to lead 24-19 at the end of the first.  

The Griffons pushed the lead to seven early in the second before the Ichabods started to chip away. Madelyn Amekporfor hit a 3-pointer to spark a 9-2 Washburn run, tying the game up at 33 on a triple from Aniah Wayne. The Ichabods were able to take the lead with 3:01 left in the quarter on a pair of free throws by Lakyn Schieferecke and held the lead until Missouri Western went on a 5-0 run to end the half leading 44-41.  

The Griffons took the momentum from the final play of the first half into the second, shooting 50% as a team in the third quarter. Washburn was able to keep it close, cutting the lead down from eight back to three with 3:56 left in the quarter on a jumper by Aubree Dewey. A pair of free throws by MWSU with 1:29 pushed the lead into double digits for the first time. Dewey knocked down a triple in the final minute to make it 69-61 going into the fourth.  

Missouri Western began the fourth on a 4-0 run to go up by 13 points and the lead never got below 10 the rest of the way. The Griffons led by as many as 20 and would win by 20, 98-78. 

Washburn got solid offensive production, shooting 38.3% from the floor, going 8-18 from behind the arc and knocking down 24 free throws. Missouri Western created the difference in the game with its shot-making, shooting 60.3% for the game while making nine 3-pointers and going 19-23 from the line. The Griffons got 15+ point advantages in bench production and points in the paint to decide the game offensively.  

Four players from Washburn finished in double figures led by Dewey who had 18 points to go along with three assists and a pair of steals. Aniah Wayne made three 3-pointers on her way to 15 points while adding three steals. Yiibari Nwidadah had 13 points on 4-8 shooting with six boards and Mackenzie Gamble added 10 points.  

Jayme Jackson led a quartet of Griffons to score in double digits with a game-high 20 points on 7-11 shooting.