EDMOND, Okla. -- Washburn led for the majority of the first half but were unable to overcome a second half run from St. Cloud State in the season-opener falling 73-61 in day one of the Central Region Crossover. The Ichabods will wrap up the tournament on Saturday facing No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State at 1 p.m.
In the opening minutes it was all Washburn (0-1) as they led 6-0 beginning with a 3-pointer by Gabi Giovannetti in the opening minute. The Huskies (1-0) did not get on the board until the 6:54 mark but quickly tied the game at six. Back-to-back baskets inside by Yiibari Nwidadah in the final three minutes of the quarter put the Ichabods in front as they led 18-17 after ten minutes.
The first four points of the second quarter came from Washburn as they held St. Cloud State scoreless until the 6:31 mark in the second. The Ichabods led by as many as six before the Huskies turned around their offensive output, shooting 7-15 in the quarter to lead 32-31 going into the break on a last second 3-pointer.
Coming out of the break Nwidadah got a layup to fall putting Washburn back in front. They held the lead until an 8-0 run by St. Cloud State midway through the quarter put them in front by five. The Ichabods were held to 6-19 (31.6%) shooting in the third as the Huskies expanded the lead to nine heading to the fourth.
Washburn began the fourth quarter on a 6-3 run to stay in the game. Another 3-pointer by Giovannetti with 3:01 remaining made it a four-point contest but that was as close as they could get. St. Cloud State scored the next eight points and went on to win 73-61.
Both teams shot under 40.0% in the contest with the Ichabods at 37.7% and the Huskies at 39.7%. Each team also shot under 25.0% from deep with Washburn making three triples to five for St. Cloud State.
Rebounding was dead even at 40 each with St. Cloud State leading 16-8 in assists and using a 25-18 advantage in second chance scoring to gain an advantage.
Yiibari Nwidadah led the team with 15 points on 6-9 shooting while adding eight rebounds, a team-high. Payton Sterk scored in double figures with 11 points and Britany Kogbara had 10 off the bench in her Washburn debut.
Jada Eggebrecht and Alana Zarneke had 19 points each to lead the Huskies.
