KEARNEY, Neb. -- Washburn and Nebraska-Kearney needed more than 40 minutes to decide things on Saturday afternoon but after 45 minutes the Ichabods ran out of time falling 75-74 in overtime to the Lopers. Washburn will stay on the road next week taking on Rogers State on Thursday, Feb. 1. at 5:30 p.m.  

The Lopers (14-5, 8-5 MIAA) offense got started first scoring the first four points of the game with the lead quickly expanding to seven points at the 7:53 mark of the first quarter. Washburn (11-8, 6-7 MIAA) battled back taking the lead after Nia McKenzie put in a layup at the 4:29 mark and held UNK scoreless for the entire stretch. Nebraska-Kearney continued to fire away, knocking down four 3-pointers in the quarter to re-take a 17-14 lead after one. 

After falling behind by five in the second quarter Washburn rattled off eight straight points going up by three on a triple from Aubree Dewey at the 5:55 mark in the quarter. Both teams had opportunities in the quarter, with 11 combined offensive rebounds, but the Ichabods made the most of them shooting 7-18 while holding UNK to 26.3% shooting for the quarter. Dewey converted on the final opportunity, knocking down a jumper as time expired to lead 32-29 at the break.  

After going back-and-forth most of the first half Washburn led for were tied for the entire third quarter. The lead reached a game-high seven points after Mackenzie Gamble connected on a 3-pointer to go up 45-38 with 3:51 left in the quarter. In the final minutes Nebraska-Kearney took advantage of a 14-8 rebound advantage in the quarter and scored the final five points and cut the lead to just one point going into the fourth.  

Neither team scored until Aniah Wayne sunk a pair of free throws with 7:32 left in the quarter. The Lopers tied the game and took the lead for the first time since early in the second quarter after hitting two free throws with 5:22 to play in regulation. In the final five minutes there were five lead changes and four ties including a tie at the end of the fourth quarter after Dewey was able to find Wayne under the basket for a layup on a play that started with four seconds left on the clock.  

Playing for the first time this season in overtime Yiibari Nwidadah sunk a pair of free throws with 3:41 remaining to break the tie. The Lopers didn't score until there was 1:55 left in the extra period on a two-point jumper. They took a one-point lead 42 seconds later and sunk another jumper with 18 seconds left to go up by three. Nwidadah connected on an extra chance layup but that would be the final score of the game with Washburn coming up one point short, 75-74.  

Washburn shot 29-72 in the game (40.3%) and were 10-11 at the line while holding UNK to 27-19 shooting (34.2%) and the Lopers were just 7-29 behind the arc. Nebraska-Kearney won the rebound battle 56-41 and grabbed 24 total offensive rebounds while also getting to the line 10 extra times creating separation in the close game.  

Aubree Dewey led all scorers with 21 points along with eight assists and three steals. She tied a career high with three 3-pointers and went over 20 points for the fifth time in her last six games. Yiibari Nwidadah tied a career high with 19 points on 8-10 shooting and made it a double double with 12 rebounds. Both Aniah Wayne and Mackenzie Gamble added eight points.  

Meg Burns scored 20 points for the Lopers to lead them. Shiloh McCool had a 15 point and 13 rebound double double while Jillian Aschoff had nine points, nine rebounds and 11 assists, the most of any Ichabod opponent this season.