TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn used a big second half to win its fifth game in a row and 20th of the season defeating Pittsburg State 71-56 at home on Wednesday night. The Ichabods play one more in the regular season taking on Missouri Southern on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Lee Arena.  

Both sides traded baskets early on with five ties in the first quarter alone. A 5-0 run by the Gorillas (18-9, 11-7 MIAA) created some separation. Both teams shot under 35.0% in the first quarter but going 8-9 at the free throw line put Pittsburg State in front 17-12 after one.  

Washburn (20-7, 13-5 MIAA) fell behind by as many as eight early in the second quarter. A 6-0 run kept it close after Payton Sterk got a layup to go at the 7:29 mark. The Gorillas got hot from deep in the quarter, shooting 6-7 from three-point range, with three coming inside the final four minutes to lead 35-29 at the break.  

The first eight points of the second half came from the Ichabods, including the first six for Brooke Gomez, as they went in front. Pittsburg State knocked down a jumper with 6:11 remaining in the quarter which would be the only points they scored in the 10-minute period. Washburn's offense continued to churn, finishing the quarter shooting 52.6% and on a 14-0 run to lead 51-37.  

The Gorilla offense picked up its pace to start the fourth, cutting the lead down to seven points at the 5:32 mark. A 3-pointer by Aniah Wayne pushed the lead back into double-figures and started a 6-0 run for the Ichabods. The lead never dipped below 10 points after that, with free throws putting the game away down the stretch to give Washburn 20 wins for the first time since the 2018-19 season.  

Washburn finished the game shooting 42.2% for the game while going 5-20 from deep. They out-rebounded the Gorillas 45-26 including grabbing 16 offensive boards. That led to a 38-14 advantage in paint scoring along with 16-9 in second chance points.  

Four players finished in double figures in a balanced scoring effort. Aniah Wayne topped the chart with 11 points on 3-4 shooting all from downtown. Gabi Giovannetti had 10 along with seven rebounds, Britany Kogbara had 10 with two blocks and Brooke Gomez added 10 as well.  

Clara Swearingen led Pittsburg State scoring 11 points, two others had ten.