TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn achieved its highest ranked victory in more than 10 years on Saturday afternoon with a 67-64 thriller to knock off No. 3 Fort Hays State 67-64 and hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. The Ichabods have a week off and stay at home before playing host to Central Missouri next Saturday, December 13 at 1 p.m. 

It was a game of runs early on with Washburn (6-2, 2-0 MIAA) throwing the first punch as the lead 8-1 after Yiibari Nwidadah got a shot inside to go. Fort Hays State (7-1, 1-1 MIAA) answered with the next 18 points in the game to lead 19-8. The Ichabods finished the opening quarter by scoring the final four points as they weathered the storm while shooting 4-18 from the field.  

The Tigers opened the second quarter by extending the lead back to 11 points at 28-17 with 6:28 to play. Shots started to fall for Washburn with an 8-0 run that included two buckets by Britany Kogbara inside. The game was tied in the final minute of the second quarter after a 3-pointer by Gabi Giovannetti and the Ichabods entered the locker room leading 35-32 with Nwidadah converting an and-one in the final seconds of the half.  

Fort Hays State quickly tied the game up in the third but Washburn had an answer with baskets by Nwidadah and Giovannetti. In the final three minutes of the quarter the duo combined for eight straight points to give the Ichabods a double-digit lead for the first time at 51-40 with 1:41 to play in the third. Payton Sterk beat the buzzer on a jumper to keep the lead at ten heading to the fourth.  

The first four points in the fourth came from the visitors. The Tigers continued to cut away, with the lead at just two points at the 4:49 mark. Minutes later Giovannetti got three the old fashioned way, stretching the lead to five. The basket was matched with a 5-0 run for Fort Hays State to tie the game with 44 seconds remaining. Out of a timeout Nwidadah got a layup to fall inside and on the other end would come up with a block to secure the second ranked victory of the season for Washburn, 67-64.  

In the process of snapping a 10-game losing streak to FHSU, the Ichabods shot 38.8% (26-67) from the field while shooting just 3-11 from deep. They were efficient at the line going 12-13. On the other end the Tigers shot 37.7% (23-61) and were just 5-25 from beyond the arc.  

The rebounding battle went Washburn's way, 41-40, with each side also within one in turnovers and assists. Points in the paint were dominated by the Ichabods, 46-32. 

Yiibari Nwidadah notched her first double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 9-17 and adding a block and steal. Gabi Giovannetti was 8-17 for 22 points with three assists and three triples. Payton Sterk had six points with five assists and Britany Kogbara scored 10 off the bench.  

Talexa Weeter had 28 points and nine rebounds for Fort Hays State while Brooke Loewe had 10 points and 10 assists.