TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn built a double-digit first half lead and held on in the second with a game-winning layup from Aubree Dewey with two seconds left to buck Central Oklahoma 64-62. The Ichabods stay in Topeka and take on Newman at 1:00 on Saturday, Jan. 4.
After Washburn (9-3, 4-2) scored the first four points of the game the Bronchos jumped ahead 7-4 with 6:14 left in the opening quarter. Central Oklahoma (2-11, 1-6) stayed ahead at 13-12 before the Ichabods closed the quarter on an 8-0 run with six points coming on a pair of triples by Mackenzie Gamble to lead 20-13.
The lead reached double digits early in the second quarter on a free throw from Madelyn Amekporfor. It was extended to a game-high 14 points with 3:57 in the second quarter after Aniah Wayne knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner. The Bronchos were held to 28.6% shooting in the quarter but got to the free throw line nine times in the frame and were able to make it a nine-point game at halftime with Washburn up 36-27.
After the Ichabods held Central Oklahoma to just one 3-pointer in the first half UCO knocked down three just in the third quarter. Back-to-back triples made it a three-point game with 7:12 left in the third. The lead got down to just two before a 10-1 Washburn run made it double figures again after two free throws from Dewey. The Bronchos scored the final five points of the quarter to make it 51-44.
Central Oklahoma had another good start to a quarter and were able to take the lead for the first time since the first quarter with 7:26 left in the game. They pushed the lead up to four points on two occasions, the final time with 3:50 left.
The next six points would all come from Washburn, with Aubree Dewey scoring the first four on a pair of turnaround jumpers in the paint. An inbound pass from Dewey to Yiibari Nwidadah for a layup put the home squad ahead with a minute to play. The Bronchos were able to tie the game up leaving the Ichabods with the final shot which was sunk by Dewey with two seconds remaining on a driving layup through the middle of the paint. Washburn made one final defensive stand to keep the final score at 64-62 and start out the season 9-3 for the first time since 2017-18.
The Ichabods shot 34.5% for the game but made up for it shooting 19-24 at the line. On the other end They held the Bronchos to 37.3% shooting overall and just four 3-pointers. Extra opportunities were the difference with Washburn securing 44 rebounds to just 32 for UCO.
Dewey scored 16 to lead WU, including 10 of the team's 13 fourth-quarter points. She also dished out five assists and grabbed seven boards. Aniah Wayne and Mackenzie Gamble each scored 11 and knocked down three triples. Yiibari Nwidadah added nine points with nine rebounds.
Three Bronchos finished in double-figures with Alena Wilson and LaKysia Johnson each scoring 16 points to lead the visitors.
