TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn opened conference play Thursday night inside Lee Arena with a fourth quarter comeback win to knock off Nebraska Kearney 71-65. The Ichabods return to action back at home on Saturday against No. 3 Fort Hays State for White Out with tip-off set for 1 p.m.  

The Ichabods (5-2, 1-0 MIAA) led off with the games first seven points, holding the Lopers (4-5, 0-1 MIAA) off the board until the 6:22 mark. A steal by Madelyn Amekporfor a score from Britany Kogbara made it 11-4 with 3:37 left in the opening quarter. Nebraska Kearney went on to finish on an 11-3 run including the final seven points to lead 15-14. 

Early in the second Amekporfor got a layup to go inside, putting Washburn back in front. The Lopers scored the next eight points as they held the Ichabods to 27.8% shooting from the floor in the quarter. They held a 33-26 lead heading to the locker rooms.  

The deficit for Washburn reached nine points midway through the third quarter. A bucket by Yiibari Nwidadah started a 7-0 run to pull within two. The Ichabods shot 9-16 in the quarter but Nebraska Kearney held off the offensive burst to lead 49-47 going into the fourth.  

Washburn finally broke through to tie the game at 53 on a Kogbara basket. Payton Sterk drove and got a layup to go and put the Ichabods in front 58-56 with 5:48 to go. The Lopers took the lead right back and went up by four. Washburn answered with six in a row, the final four from Gabi Giovannetti. An and-one layup by Nwidadah in the final minute put the Ichabods in front for good as they held on to win 71-65. 

Washburn shot 28-63 (44.4%) for the game while only going 3-14 (21.4%) from deep. The Lopers were held to 22-58 (37.9%) and hit six 3-pointers.  

The Ichabods held a 38-35 advantage on the boards and won the turnover battle 17-15. Points in the paint were dominated by the home squad 50-28.  

Four players scored in double figures led by 18 points from Gabi Giovannetti on 6-12 shooting along with four assists. Yiibari Nwidadah had 15 on 7-10 shooting with three blocks and seven rebounds. Payton Sterk added 14 and Madelyn Amekporfor chipped in 10.  

Myleigh Weers led Nebraska Kearney with 21 points, Jillian Aschoff had 11 with six assists.