TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn rung in the new year with a second straight win by more than 25 points as they took down Emporia State 86-59 on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods will head on the road for the first time in conference play next, taking on Missouri Western at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7.  

The Ichabods (10-3, 3-1 MIAA) got off to quick start scoring the first seven points after Yiibari Nwidadah got a layup to go at the 7:09 mark. The Lady Hornets (7-6, 1-3 MIAA) were held in check through nearly the first four minutes before getting on the board. Washburn responded by scoring the next 11 points, leading 18-2 after two straight triples by Payton Sterk. She connected again from distance to end the first quarter leading 23-6 after holding Emporia State to 1-11 shooting from the floor.  

The hot shooting for the Ichabods continued to start the second quarter as they pushed the lead to 20 points after another set of back-to-back triples by Sterk. Washburn shot 6-11 from deep in the quarter and finished the first half with 11 connections from behind the arc on 17 attempts. They scored 26 points in the second quarter to lead 49-26 heading into halftime.  

Out of the break Nwidadah scored the first six for Washburn pushing the lead up to 25. The Lady Hornets were able to cut into the deficit and get it down to 18. A pair of buckets inside by Nwidadah in the final minutes brought the lead back over 20 with the Ichabods shooting 9-12 from the floor in the quarter to lead 73-49 after three.  

A 5-0 run for Washburn early in the fourth gave them a 33-point advantage, the largest of the game after a triple by Gabi Giovannetti and layup by Nwidadah. They held Emporia State without a field goal in the quarter until the final 30 seconds of the game to win going away 86-59.  

A quick start offensively gave the Ichabods their most efficient game of the year shooting 33-65 (50.8%) from the floor and 12-20 (60.0%) from deep. On the other end the Lady Hornets shot just 29.6% overall while going 7-21 from deep.  

Washburn held a 39-34 advantage on the boards while out-assisting the Lady Hornets 24-11. Points in the paint went big in favor of the Ichabods, 36-16,  along with winning the turnover battle 16-10.  

Payton Sterk led the team in scoring with 21 points on 8-14 shooting overall and 5-7 from deep while also adding four assists. Yiibari Nwidadah had a double-double with 20 points on 7-11 shooting along with 12 rebounds. Gabi Giovannetti added nine points on 3-4 shooting with seven rebounds, a steal and block. Aniah Wayne also had nine points off the bench.  

Gracie Gilpin had 13 to pace Emporia State, Kaitlyn Sanders had 12.