TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn overcame a slow start to earn its first conference win of the season Saturday knocking off Rogers State 56-44. The Ichabods travel to Northwest Missouri State on Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m.  

Washburn (6-2, 1-1 MIAA) scored just 15 points in the first half but held the Hillcats (4-5, 0-4) to just 23.7% shooting in the game to even up its record in MIAA play this season.  

Rogers State scored the first two baskets of the game with the Ichabods not getting on the board until there was 5:25 left in the first quarter on a pair of free throws by Mackenzie Gamble. Shooting struggles persisted throughout the first quarter for both teams as they shot a combined 5-31 in the first 10 minutes with the Hillcats leading 9-6.  

Rogers State began the second quarter with a pair of 3-pointers and the Washburn was not able to find the bottom of the net until there was 6:10 left in the quarter on a jumper by Aubree Dewey. The lead grew to nine before the Ichabods ended the quarter on a 5-0 run capped off by a 3-pointer from Aniah Wayne to trail 19-15 going into the break.  

Coming out of halftime Washburn went on a 7-2 run, taking the lead after Yiibari Nwidadah knocked down a pair of free throws. The lead went back one to the Hillcats before the Ichabods reeled off a 10-2 run ended with a 3-pointer by Madelyn Amekporfor to go up by eight. Lakyn Schieferecke ended the quarter with an old fashioned three-point-play to put WU ahead 37-29.  

After holding Rogers State to 21.4% shooting in the third quarter Washburn's defense continued to stay locked in, forcing the Hillcats to shoot 22.2% in the final frame. The Ichabods scored the first eight points of the quarter, pushing the lead into double figures on another triple by Amekporfor with 8:27 remaining. The lead never dropped below nine from that point and Washburn was able to ease into a 56-44 victory.  

The Ichabods shot just 28.3% for the game, but held RSU to 14-59 (23.7%) shooting. The difference in the game came off the bench, with the WU crew outscoring the Hillcats 25-14. On the boards Washburn also held a 51-40 rebound advantage, pulling down 11 offensively.  

Yiibari Nwidadah pulled down another double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Ichaobds in scoring. Madelyn Amekporfor had 12 points on 3-5 shooting with five boards. Aubree Dewey did a bit of everything finishing with nine points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.  

Destiny Jones and Breanna Fowler were the lone Hillcats to finish in double figure scoring with 11 and 10 respectively.