EDMOND, Okla. -- Washburn picked up its first win of the season on Saturday afternoon with a late comeback to knock off No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State 63-59 in the squads final game of the Central Region Challenge. The Ichabods will play next at home inside of renovated Lee Arena against Southwest Baptist at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
It was another quick start for Washburn (1-1) as they led early thanks to points in the paint from Yiibari Nwidadah and Britany Kogbara. The lead reached six point at 15-9 after a driving basket by Brooke Gomez as the Ichabods led the Mustangs (2-2) 17-12 after one.
Kogbara got the first basket of the second quarter but after that Southwest Minnesota State took over, scoring the next nine points to lead by two. The deficit reached double figures at 33-22 as they connected on five 3-pointers in the quarter. Washburn battled through the hot shooting with five more points from Kogbara in the final 90 seconds to give her 15 in the half and cut the lead to 35-29 at the break.
After the first two points of the half went to SWMSU the next ten went to the Ichabods as they tied the game with a bucket by Yiibari Nwidadah and went in front on a pair of free throws by Payton Sterk. Southwest Minnesota State answered right back, going in front by five to end the quarter leading 47-42.
The Mustangs' lead reached nine with under eight minutes to play. At the 5:36 mark Payton Sterk drilled a triple to make it 53-49 and start the rally. Washburn got within three in the final three minutes and finally came all the way back to tie it up at 59 after Madelyn Amekporfor hit a jumper at the 1:53 mark. She followed with a fastbreak layup to go in front. The Ichabods forced three straight turnovers and sank free throws on the other end in the final minute to win 63-59.
Washburn shot 26-60 (43.3%) in the game playing from the inside out with 44 paint points and just eight three point attempts. Southwest Minnesota State shot 41.8% and 33.3% from deep with six triples.
Rebounding went in favor of the Mustangs 48-25 but the Ichabods made up ground in the possession battle with a 22-8 turnover advantage leading to 26 points while SWMSU scored just two on takeaways.
Britany Kogbara led the way with 15 points on 7-11 shooting with a block and steal. Yiibari Nwidadah was consistent, scoring 14 with a block and steal as well. Payton Sterk also had 14 points along with four steals and Madelyn Amekporfor had nine with a team-high seven boards.
Three scored in double figures for the Mustangs led by 17 points from Kylan Gerads and 16 by Nicole Maenke.
