TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn opened up the 2025 calendar year inside Lee Arena with a double-digit win over Missouri Western, snapping the Griffons' seven-game winning streak with an 88-73 victory. The Ichabods will remain at home as they take on Northwest Missouri at 1 p.m. on Saturday.  

Missouri Western (9-4, 4-1 MIAA) opened the game with a pair of triples that put them up 6-2 at the 7:50 mark of the first quarter. The Washburn (8-7, 2-3 MIAA) offense got going, with five straight points from Madelyn Amekporfor that put the Ichabods in front 11-8. It was a balanced offensive effort for Washburn as it built a nine-point lead with 1:23 left in the quarter after Aniah Wayne connected from deep off the bench. Amaya Davison got a layup to go just before the buzzer to make it 28-22 after one.  

After shooting 61.1% in the first quarter the Ichabods maintained their pace in the second, shooting 6-11 (54.6%). With a 5-0 run in the middle of the quarter Washburn pushed the lead to double figures at 42-32 after Yiibari Nwidadah got a jump hook to fall. For a second straight quarter Davison ended it at the buzzer, this time draining a 3-pointer to make it 47-34 heading into the locker rooms.  

The Ichabods held Missouri Western from scoring for the first 2:07 of the quarter. Once the Griffons got the lead back down to 12 a triple by Madelyn Amekporfor began a 6-0 burst to make the deficit a game-high 18-points. Once again, Washburn added to the lead just before the end of the quarter, this time with Payton Sterk working her way into the paint for a layup to make the score 64-49.  

The beginning of the fourth quarter started strong for the Ichabods again, with back-to-back layups for Nwidadah followed by a free throw by Davison to make it a 20-point game at the 7:40 mark. Missouri Western began fouling early and often in the quarter to attempt a comeback. Washburn did what it needed to do at the charity stripe, shooting 11-14 in the quarter to never allow the lead to get below 11 in the final quarter, holding on for a 88-73 victory.  

With the victory, the Ichabods move to over .500 for the first time all season as they shot 50.9% (28-55) from the field. They were efficient from all areas going 9-20 (45.0%) from deep and 23-28 (82.1%) at the line. On the other end the Griffons shot 44.1% (26-59) and drained 14 triples but attempted just 10 free throws, making seven.  

Rebounding went big in Washburn's favor, 40-22, leading to a 34-24 advantage in paint scoring. The Ichabods kept Missouri Western off the offensive glass with just three offensive rebounds but were held scoreless on second chance opportunities.  

Yiibari Nwidadah finished strong, scoring 17 of her 21 points in the second half while shooting 7-11 overall and grabbing a game-high 11 boards for a double-double. Payton Sterk scored 18 points with eight rebounds and Madelyn Amekporfor had 16 on 4-5 shooting overall and went 4-4 from three-point land. Amaya Davison and Aniah Wayne each had 10 points off the bench.  

Marie Sepp led Missouri Western with 21 points on 9-13 shooting while Alyssa Bonilla had 16 points to go along with nine rebounds.