TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn outscored Central Oklahoma by 16 points in the middle two quarters to defeat the Bronchos 75-60. The Ichabods will wrap up the regular season inside Lee Arena on Saturday at 1 p.m. hosting Rogers State.  

In the first five minutes of the opening quarter both teams traded baskets, with five ties. Three straight points from Yiibari Nwidadah sparked a 7-0 run for Washburn (15-11, 9-7 MIAA) that would put them in front by five. Central Oklahoma (7-18, 6-10 MIAA) ended the quarter with a jumper to make it 20-17 after one.  

A 3-pointer by Payton Sterk at the 9:39 mark in the second quarter was the only basket for either team in the first four minutes of play. After a layup from the Bronchos with 5:40 to play the Ichabods went on a 12-0 run that began and ended with layups by Brooke Gomez. Central Oklahoma shot just 2-10 in the quarter and got its second field goal at the buzzer on a last second 3-pointer to cut the lead down to a dozen going into halftime.  

The first four points of the second half went to the visitors, cutting the lead to single digits. After a jumper by Niwdadah at the 7:46 mark in the quarter the lead never got below 10 for the remainder of the quarter. Sterk and Nwidadah combined to go on a 9-2 run to end the quarter as the Ichabods shot 61.5% in the frame to lead 53-34 going into the fourth. 

Washburn scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, going up by 26 with 7:29 left after Willow Gideon knocked down a 3-pointer. Both offenses shot at or over 50.0% in the quarter as the Ichabods stayed in front by more than 20 until the Bronchos ended the game on an 11-0 run that was too little, too late as Washburn eased into a 75-60 win.  

For the game Washburn shot 28-54 (51.9%) while shooting just 5-16 from beyond the arc and 14-26 at the line. Central Oklahoma shot 21-52 (40.4%) and were 8-20 from deep. A 36-29 rebounding advantage and 18-14 turnover advantage helped the Ichabods gain an edge.  

Points in the paint went big to Washburn, 46-24, as did points of turnovers 24-14.  

Payton Sterk led all players with 20 points going 7-14 from the floor with three assists. Yiibari Nwidadah added 13 points with a team-high seven boards and Gabi Giovannetti added 12 points.  

Three players scored in double figures for the Bronchos led by LaKysie Johnson with 15 points.