EMPORIA, Kan. -- Washburn rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat Emporia State 64-61 inside of White Auditorium in the opening game of 2025. The Ichabods move back to .500 on the year and will return to Topeka for four straight games beginning Wednesday, Jan. 8 against Missouri Western at 5:30 p.m.  

After Washburn (7-7, 1-3 MIAA) scored the opening basket of the game courtesy of Gabi Giovannetti the next 10 points were all scored by the Lady Hornets (7-6, 2-2 MIAA). The Ichabods made up ground at the free throw line, connecting on five free throws in the quarter to get back within two. Late in the quarter they briefly went in front after a triple from Giovannetti. Emporia State knotted the game back up at 16 to end the first.  

Both sides struggled to score in the second quarter as defenses tightened up before halftime. Even with just five combined field goals in the quarter there were five lead changes and three ties as the game went back and forth. The final four points of the quarter went to the Lady Hornets, all at the free throw line, to lead 28-25 at the break.  

Coming out of halftime Emporia State started on a 8-0 run to lead by a game-high 11 points at the 7:32 mark in the third quarter. Inside of five minutes to play Nia McKenzie scored an old-fashioned three-point play which began a 13-2 stretch for Washburn to end the quarter. They went in front 41-39 after Brooke Gomez got a 3-pointer to go and would enter the fourth tied at 41.  

The first four points of the fourth quarter went to the Lady Hornets but the Ichabods battled back with a 9-0 run capped off with a 3-pointer by Aniah Wayne to go up 50-45 with 5:35 left. Twice over the next four minutes Emporia State pulled within one point, both times Washburn had an answer. The second came from Giovannetti connecting on a triple to go up by four at the 1:01 mark. Down the stretch the Ichabods went 8-10 at the free throw line to cap off a 23-point quarter and their first win in MIAA play by a 64-61 score.  

After shooting under 25.0% in the first half Washburn raised its percentage for the game to 31.6% (18-57). On the other end the Lady Hornets shot 23-62 (37.1%) and were held to 4-23 from beyond the arc. The Ichabods had a big advantage at the free throw line, converting 21-29 attempts while Emporia State went just 11-16.  

Rebounding went in Washburn's favor 47-37, as did fast break scoring 14-6. Points off turnovers along with bench scoring was equal for both sides.  

Brooke Gomez and Payton Sterk each had 14 points to lead the Ichabods in scoring. Gomez's was a career-high while she added three assists. Gabi Giovannetti had 13 points and made a trio of 3-pointers.  

Mackenzie McDaniel led Emporia State with 16 points while Katie Horyna had 13 and 11 rebounds.