EMPORIA, Kan. -- Washburn snapped a two-game losing skid on Thursday evening pulling away in the second half to defeat Emporia State for the second time in 2026, 63-52. The Ichabods will face Newman on the road Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Wichita.  

A pair of baskets early on by Madelyn Amekporfor put Washburn (11-5, 4-3 MIAA) in front early. The Lady Hornets (8-8, 2-5 MIAA) knocked down a few jumpers to go in front 10-9 with 5:13 remaining. That would be the last points of the quarter for Emporia State as they were held to 33.3% shooting in the quarter. Over the last five minutes the Ichabods built a 14-10 lead.  

The first points for either team in the second quarter came from Brooke Gomez with 6:44 to play in the half. Aniah Wayne knocked down a triple shortly after, pushing the lead to nine. Washburn shot over 50.0% in the quarter to lead 28-21 at the break.  

Out of the half Wayne hit a layup at the 7:39 mark to make it a double-figure lead for the first time in the game. The Lady Hornets brought the lead back down to eight before the Ichabods answered with a 8-0 run started by a basket from Yiibari Nwidadah. The lead remained at 16 with a last second layup from Britany Kogbara to end the quarter.  

Neither team scored for the first 3:36 of the fourth until Nwidadah sank another layup that began a 7-0 run to start the quarter and push the lead over 20. The early offense in the quarter put the game away for Washburn as the Lady Hornets never got within single-digits the rest of the way and the Ichabods completed the regular season series sweep winning 63-52.  

Washburn was consistent throughout shooting 42.6% overall while going 3-10 from deep. On the other end Emporia State was held to 32.3% shooting and just 3-6 at the free throw line.  

The rebounding battle was won by 45-34 by the Ichabods, helping lead to a 44-22 advantage in paint scoring. Washburn's bench provided 36 points to just 25 for the Lady Hornet reserves.  

Aniah Wayne came off the bench to lead the way in scoring with 17 points going 6-9 from the field with all three Ichabod triples. Yiibari Nwidadah provided 13 points on 6-10 shooting with seven rebounds. Gabi Giovannetti had a team-high 10 boards along with three steals and three assists.  

Kaitlyn Sanders led Emporia State with 12 points, Makenzie McDaniel had 10.