TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn closed out its time in Lee Arena for the 2024-25 season with a 64-52 win over Rogers State on Saturday afternoon, marking its third straight victory. The Ichabods will head on the road for the final week of the regular season beginning with Pittsburg State at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The Hillcats (7-19, 1-16 MIAA) jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead but the next nine points were all scored by Washburn (16-11, 10-7 MIAA), going in front 11-5 at the 6:07 mark after Gabi Giovannetti got a jumper to fall. The Ichabod offense worked efficiently in the first, shooting 8-15 to lead 20-13 after one.
Washburn pushed the lead into double digits after a free throw by Giovannetti early in the second. Both teams traded baskets the rest of the way as the Ichabod offense cooled off from the first quarter. Rogers State cut the lead down to just five points at the 3:22 mark and once again with just over a minute left in the half. Brooke Gomez ended the frame with a driving layup to make it 31-24 after 20 minutes.
Two straight baskets by Payton Sterk, the second a steal and score, began a 6-0 run that put the Ichabods in front by 14 at the 5:24 mark in the third. Washburn got to the line, shooting eight free throws in the quarter and making six to keep the lead in double digits into the final two minutes. The Hillcats went on a 4-0 run in the final 35 seconds of the half to pull within eight at 48-40 going into the fourth.
After Rogers State got the first basket in the final frame the Ichabods responded with a 6-0 run beginning with a layup by Sterk. Washburn was held scoreless for the next 3:43 as the Hillcats pulled within six points. It took only 78 seconds for the Ichabods to get the six points back with Sterk and Nwidadah each accounting for three to lead by 12 with 2:25 to play. That is what the deficit would be at the final buzzer with Sterk and Emajin McCollum sinking free throws down the stretch, securing the 64-52 win.
Washburn shot 43.1% (22-51) for the game and was 15-24 at the free throw line, generating 13 more attempts than the visitors. Rogers State shot 22-55 (40.0%) overall, but was just 2-17 from beyond the arc, with both makes coming in the first half.
Rebounding went in favor of the Ichabods 37-29, while both teams were able to turn the other over as Washburn had 20 giveaways and the Hillcats 18. Both teams were even in paint scoring, with 32 each, while the Ichabods had 11 second chance points and allowed just five.
Payton Sterk led the way with her second straight 20-point game, scoring 24 on 8-16 shooting with three steals. Brooke Gomez scored eight points and grabbed a career and game-high 11 rebounds while also giving out five assists. Yiibari Nwidadah scored 11 points and grabbed six boards.
Alyza Aikins scored 13 to lead Rogers State while Jaiana Wiggins added 11 with three blocks.
