QUINCY, Il. -- Washburn fell behind early after a hot start by McKendree and was unable to bounce back, falling 88-83 in the first game of the Quincy Classic. The Ichabods will finish out the tournament against the host Quincy at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
It was Washburn (0-3) who got the first bucket to go courtesy of Payton Sterk just 19 seconds into the game but the Bearcat (3-0) offense heated up quickly. They scored nine in a row to lead 11-4 at the 7:07 mark in the first. Both teams traded blows for the rest of a fast-paced first quarter that featured both sides shooting 50.0% or better. Seven turnovers for the Ichabods were the difference giving McKendree a 25-19 lead.
Early in the second the Bearcats were able to push the lead into double digits at 33-23 with 6:47 left in the half. The lead grew to as many as 12 before back-to-back buckets by Madely Amekporfor cut into the deficit. McKendree shot 8-13 (61.5%) from the floor but the Ichabods won the quarter and went into the half trailing by just four, 45-41, after a bucket by Gabi Giovannetti in the final minute.
Coming out of the break Washburn was able to tie the game at 49 after a layup by Yiibari Nwidadah at the 8:42 mark. Shortly after they went ahead, leading 50-49 with Giovannetti scoring five points in a row. The Ichabod lead reached just two before the Bearcats responded with a 12-0 run. A big part of the run came at the line as McKendree shot 11-14 at the charity stripe in the third quarter alone. Washburn shot 50.0% from the field and held and limited the Bearcats to just 30.8% shooting but after 30 minutes trailed 66-60.
Giovannetti and Nwidadah continued to lead the offensive attack, scoring the first six points in the final quarter for the Ichabods to make it a four-point game at the 7:18 mark. McKendree held the lead there and had a five-point advantage before Amekporfor went on a personal 4-0 run to make it 81-80 with 99 seconds left.
The next five points went to the Bearcats. A triple by Amekporfor cut the lead in half with 13 seconds remaining but time ran out on Washburn as McKendree held on to win 88-83.
The Ichabods were efficient from the floor, shooting 31-68 (45.6%) and were 14-20 from the line. They also won the rebounding battle 37-35 and had a 20-18 advantage in assists. The Bearcats offense just started hot and stayed hot, shooting 31-64 (48.4%) while generating 27 opportunities at the line and converting 21 of them.
Points in the paint went in favor of McKendree, 46-34, while both sides were nearly even in bench scoring in points off turnovers.
Gabi Giovannetti had a team-high 19 points on 7-16 shooting while adding five rebounds. Defensively she was everywhere, coming away with four steals and three blocks. Yiibari Nwidadah had 18 points on 7-12 shooting, grabbed seven boards and added a pair of blocks. Madelyn Amekporfor scored 16, had six rebounds and added three blocks and two steals. Aniah Wayne scored 14 off the bench and dished out four assists.
Clare Breden had a game-high 25 points on 4-10 shooting but was 16-20 from the free throw line. Baylie Parks had a double-double finishing with 24 points and 10 boards for the Bearcats.
