TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn jumped out to an early lead with a hot-shooting first quarter and held on down the stretch for an 85-78 win over Nebraska Kearney. The Ichabods have a week off before finishing out their homestand against Central Missouri next Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m.  

Yiibari Nwidadah got the scoring started for Washburn (12-10, 6-6 MIAA) and Payton Sterk followed with a triple to go in front 5-0. The Ichabods continued to shoot well from deep, making their next two triples coming from Madelyn Amekporfor and Gabi Giovannetti to make it 15-9 at the 4:44 mark. Washburn continued to light up the nets, shooting 9-13 (69.2%) in the first quarter to build a 25-17 lead.  

To open up the second quarter the Lopers (16-5, 8-3 MIAA) brought the deficit down to five before a bucket inside from Nwidadah and triple by Sterk pushed the lead to double-digits. The lead continued to grow, with Nwidadah scoring six straight points to make it 40-23 with 5:05 left in the half. Nebraska Kearney was able to keep pace, with both teams shooting exactly 7-14 in the quarter. Washburn would head to the locker room with a 44-33 advantage.  

Out of the break the Ichabods got off to a quick start, leading 54-37 after Nia McKenzie converted on an old-fashioned three-point play. The Lopers were able to make up some ground, bringing the lead down to 10 but never into single digits. A jumper from the visitors on the final possession of the quarter made it an 11-point game once again heading to the fourth.  

Washburn held Nebraska Kearney off the board for the first two minutes of the fourht, building the lead to 15 after Giovannetti got a layup to go. After a Nwidadah basket to make it 72-58 with 5:44 remaining the Lopers scored the next nine points, cutting the deficit to just two with 2:01 left. Sterk got a layup to go on the next possession and from that point Nebraska Kearney put Washburn at the line the rest of the way. In the final 40 seconds of the game Sterk was sent to the line five times, and she was able to convert all 10 of her chances to hold off the Lopers comeback bid and secure an 85-77 win.  

The Ichabods finished the game shooting 25-46 (54.3%) overall and were efficient all around shooting 8-15 (53.3%) from deep and 27-34 (79.4%) at the line. Nebraska Kearney shot 30-62 (48.4%) and were held to just 7-26 (26.9%) shooting from deep.  

Washburn narrowly lost the rebounding battle 30-26 but shared the ball well, with 17 assists to just nine for the visitors.  

Payton Sterk finished with her second 30+ point game of the year, scoring 30 on 7-15 shooting and 13-14 at the line along with five assists. Yiibari Nwidadah had 21 points in 21 minutes on a perfect 8-8 shooting. Madelyn Amekporfor had 12 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Gabi Giovannetti also scored in double figures with 13.  

Four players scored in double figures for Nebraska Kearney, led by Jordan Sears with 20 points. Kia Wilson had 19 to go along with seven rebounds.