HAYS, Kan. -- Washburn stayed close most of the way but weren't able to overcome a late run by No. 5 Fort Hays State, falling 59-47 on the road Thursday evening. Next up the Ichabods travel to face Nebraska Kearney in the MIAA Game of the Week on 38 The Spot at 2 p.m. on Saturday.  

Yiibari Nwidadah opened the scoring of what would be a low-scoring first quarter with a layup at the 8:56 mark. After a pair of ties, the Tigers (19-1, 10-1 MIAA) stayed in front the rest of the way as both teams shot a combined 8-31 in the quarter. After ten minutes Washburn (14-6, 7-4 MIAA) trailed 9-8.  

The Ichabods continued to play catch-up to begin the second. They were finally able to string together back-to-back buckets and lead 18-17 after Britany Kogbara got a basket to go with 4:23 left in the half. Fort Hays State went back in front and led by a pair with 2:16 left. The home squad was held scoreless from that point on in the quarter as Aniah Wayne tied the game at 24 heading into the half with a basket.  

 In the opening minutes of the third quarter the Tigers pushed the lead to four points at the 7:24 mark. They were held scoreless for the next four plus minutes as Washburn was able to go in front on a Gabi Giovannetti triple at the 3:36 mark, the first 3-pointer of the game for the Ichabods. Fort Hays State scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 36-33. 

After three tries cutting the lead down to two points, Washburn was able to tie the game up on an offensive rebound and putback by Nwidadah with 4:21 left in regulation. The Tiger offense picked up after that, scoring the next nine points in the game in just over two and a half minutes. The lead was pushed into double figures as Fort Hays State pulled away to win 59-47. 

The Ichabods were held to just 29.2% shooting in the game (21-72) and were 2-18 from beyond the arc. Even in the low scoring game the Tigers shot an efficient 49.9% (25-51) while shooting 3-12 from deep.  

Eighteen offensive rebounds kept Washburn in the game, along with winning the turnover battle 17-11. The shot making of the Tiger starting five was the difference as the Ichabod bench outscored the home reserves 18-0.  

Yiibari Nwidadah led the way with 12 points on 6-9 shooting and was one rebound shy from a double-double. Gabi Giovannetti had 11 points while Britany Kogbara added eight with seven boards. 

Talexa Weeter scored 25 on 11-19 shooting to lead Fort Hays State while Brooke Loewe had 15 with eight assists.