WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Washburn fought to come back late but could not complete the come-from-behind victory, falling 64-58 to Central Missouri on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods are back in action on Thursday, Feb. 12 at home against Arkansas-Fort Smith beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The Jennies (17-5, 11-2 MIAA) jumped in front early leading 11-6 at the first media timeout. Washburn (15-7, 8-5 MIAA) battled to tie the game up at 14 after a 6-0 run and bucket by Madelyn Amekporfor at the 1:04 mark. Central Missouri scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 18-14 after one.
A 5-0 run from the home team pushed the lead to double figures with 5:12 to play in the first half. The Jennies offense knocked down four 3-pointers in the quarter while shooting 50.0% overall as the deficit grew to 37-25 at the half for the Ichabods.
Washburn chipped away at the lead in the third quarter, cutting it down to six points at the 5:32 mark after Brooke Gomez knocked down a 3-pointer, the first and only of the game for the Ichabods. The lead was boosted back up to double figures at 49-39 after a triple from Central Missouri with 69 seconds left in the quarter.
The offense of Washburn got off to a fast start in the fourth quarter, scoring the first six points with the final four from Gomez to pull within four. The deficit was cut down to four once more with 6:07 left but the Jennies fired back with five straight points. Gabi Giovannetti got an old-fashioned three-point play with 33 seconds left, once again making it a four-point game. The next two offensive possessions came up empty for the Ichabods with the Jennies putting the game away at the free throw line to win 64-58.
Washburn narrowly out-shot Central Missouri from the floor shooting at a 44.6% clip to UCM's 44.2%. The Ichabods were 1-14 from deep while the home squad went 7-18.
The Jennies led on the boards 32-30, while Washburn had a 48-28 advantage in paint scoring. They also led in points off turnovers 19-13 with a 15-16 edge in giveaways.
Brooke Gomez led all scorers with a career-high 23 points on 11-13 shooting. Gabi Giovannetti each scored eight and had a pair of steals.
Reese Schaaf had 18 points to go along with nine rebounds to lead Central Missouri.
