TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn used a 48-point second half to blow past Lincoln 80-55 in the 2024-25 home-opener. The Ichabods will face Sterling College at 4 p.m. inside of Lee Arena to wrap up the 2024 calendar year at home.  

After 40 seconds of action it was 4-0 for Washburn (3-4) with baskets by Payton Sterk and Yiibari Nwidadah. The lead grew to 8-2 at the 6:17 mark after Gabi Giovannetti knocked down a jumper. The Blue Tigers (1-1) responded with a 12-2 run over the next 3:05 to go up 14-10. Lincoln shot 8-13 (61.5%) in the quarter to lead 21-16 after 10 minutes.  

After both teams traded baskets to start the second, Washburn cobbled together a 7-0 run, going in front after a pair of made free throws by Sterk with 6:09 left. Lincoln went back in front by three but the final three baskets of the half were all scored by Nwidadah, giving the Ichabods a 32-29 advantage heading into the break after holding the Blue Tigers to 3-13 shooting in the quarter.  

Out of the break, a triple by Sterk and six more points in the paint from Nwidadah pushed the Washburn lead to double figures at 41-30. The Ichabods scored 25 points in the quarter with 24 coming from Nwidadah, Giovannetti and Sterk. After scoring the final four points of the quarter the lead grew to 17 points.  

The Washburn offense was kept in check until the 6:30 mark in the fourth quarter when Giovannetti got a jumper to fall. Even with the slow start the Blue Tigers never got closer than 13 points. Turnovers down the stretch allowed the Ichabods to expand the lead in the final two minutes, outscoring Lincoln 9-2 to make it an 80-25 final.  

Washburn scored at least 80 points for the third straight game shooting 30-62 (48.4%) from the floor and 6-14 from deep. The Blue Tigers shot 38.8% overall (19-49) but were only 4-20 from beyond the arc. The Ichabods were all over the boards, outrebounding Lincoln 46-20 while also dishing out 16 assists to just 10.  

Thanks to the rebounding edge, points in the paint also went in favor of Washburn 44-24, along with second chance points by an 18-2 margin.  

Yiibari Nwidadah secured her second straight double-double as she scored 25 and grabbed 12 rebounds while shooting 10-14 from the floor. Payton Sterk added 18 points with three assists while Gabi GIovannetti scored 14 on 6-14 shooting with four assists and five boards.  

Ayreona Carter had 19 points to lead Lincoln while shooting 7-10 from the floor.