TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn used a 30-point third quarter to overcome a halftime deficit and fly past Newman 77-66 on Saturday afternoon in Lee Arena. The Ichabods will head back out on the road next week taking on Northwest Missouri State at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
The Jets (6-11, 1-7 MIAA) got out to a fast start with a pair of 3-pointers to build a 10-3 lead at the 5:20 mark in the first quarter. Washburn (10-8, 4-4 MIAA) scored the next five points, but Newman remained in front the whole quarter. Payton Sterk got a driving layup to go on the final possession of the half to make it just a one-point lead at 18-17 after one.
Amaya Davison began the second quarter with a driving layup to give Washburn its first lead of the game. After two free throws from Nia McKenzie they led 25-20 with 7:40 left in the half. From that point the Jets scored the next seven points to regain the lead. Washburn was able to get to the line, making eight free throws in the quarter, but shot just 3-12 from the field as Newman ended the half with a 3-pointer to lead 34-31.
A bucket from Yiibari Nwidadah and a 3-pointer by Payton Sterk tied the game up for the Ichabods in the opening minutes of the third quarter. They took the lead at 45-44 after Nwidadah got a tip to go, Gabi Giovannetti followed with a 3-pointer which was part of a 16-3 run for the Ichabods, going up double-digits with 2:09 to play in the quarter after Nwidadah got another layup to go. The lead remained in double figures at 11 points heading to the fourth as Washburn shot 8-12 from the floor in the quarter.
The Ichabod offense continued to churn to begin the fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 18 points after an 8-0 run capped off by a layup from Davison. The Jets responded with eight straight of their own but were unable to cut the deficit below 10 as Washburn held on for its tenth win of the season, 77-66.
From the field the Ichabods shot 22-47 (42.6%) while holding Newman to 22-62 (35.5%), but it was at the line that Washburn created an advantage as they shot 32-44 from the charity stripe to just 13-19 for the visitors.
A 40-32 rebounding advantage went in the Ichabods favor, leading to a 30-24 advantage in points in the paint. Both sides were near even in assists with 11 for Washburn and eight for the Jets.
Yiibari Nwidadah had a game-high 22 points on 7-10 shooting with eight rebounds. Gabi Giovannetti scored 18 points on 4-5 shooting and 8-8 at the free throw line while also snagging two steals. Payton Sterk chipped in nine points.
Newman had four score in double figures led by Jaeden McMillin with 15 and Valeriya Lioukina with 14.
