Box Score TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn came up on the wrong end of its first overtime game of the season on Saturday afternoon as they fell 66-61 to Northwest Missouri State in 45 minutes. The Ichabods will remain at home next week as they take on Emporia State on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m.
Through the first six minutes of play Washburn (8-8, 2-4 MIAA) jumped ahead to a 12-6 lead with half of the points coming from Payton Sterk. Amaya Davison knocked down a triple to move the lead up to seven points at the 2:26 mark in the quarter. The Bearcats (9-7, 2-4 MIAA) were held to just 2-7 shooting in the frame as the Ichabods built a 15-10 lead.
Northwest Missouri bounced back offensively with two made triples to begin the second quarter and tied the game at 18 on a layup. Two more connections from deep from the Bearcats quickly put them up by six as they went 5-8 from 3-point range in the quarter. Washburn settled in on defense, keeping Northwest Missouri off the board for nearly four minutes as they went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. The advantage changed once more before the half and flipped back to the Ichabods after Aniah Wayne sank a 3-pointer to go up 31-29 at the break.
Both teams went back and forth to begin the third quarter with nine lead changes and 12 ties in the entire game. Washburn led by four with 4:02 left after Madelyn Amekporfor made a pair of free throws. The Ichabods held the Bearcats to 3-11 (27.3%) shooting in the third but the visitors were able to keep pace shooting 6-6 at the line in the frame. They trailed by just one after a pair of free throws in the final minute to make it 44-43 in favor of the home team.
Washburn started the fourth quarter with three straight points from Amekporfor, going up by four again. That would be the biggest margin on either side for the remainder of regulation. A 3-point lead for the Ichabods in the final five minutes was erased after a triple on the other end. Northwest Missouri went in front with 1:19 to play after a putback layup went in. Brooke Gomez went coast-to-coast just eight seconds later for a layup to tie the game at 57 and that is how it would stay after 40 minutes of play.
The Bearcats scored the first five points of overtime to lead 62-57 with 3:16 left. Washburn pulled within three after Gabi Giovannetti got a 3-pointer to fall with 1:18 remaining in overtime. That was all they could muster in the final minutes as Northwest Missouri put the game at the way at the free throw line to win 66-61.
The Ichabods finished the game shooting 42.1% overall and 4-10 from deep. The Bearcats shot 17-16 (37.0%) and were 8-20 from beyond the arc. The free throw advantage went to the visitors as they shot 24-27 at the line to just 9-13 for Washburn.
Rebounding went in the Ichabods' favor, 36-26, as did a 38-16 points in the pant advantage. The Washburn bench also outscored Northwest Missouri's reserves 21-5.
Caely Kesten led the way for the Bearcats playing 43 minutes and scoring 22 points with four 3-pointers. Holly Hartnett added 14 and Emree Zars had 11.
