The Washburn Ichabods closed on an 13-3 run to defeat Nebraska Kearney, 71-65, Thursday night in Kansas.
This was the MIAA opener for both with the teams meeting again Jan. 31 in Kearney. The Ichabods improve to 5-2 (3-0 at home) while the Lopers fall to 4-5. All nine games have been decided by 11 points or less.
UNK led 33-26 at the half on the strength of 46% shooting (12 of 26), being plus two on the glass and holding WU to a 0 of 8 effort from behind the arc. Diller freshman Myleigh Weers was doing most of the damage with 14 points thanks to 5 of 7 effort (3 of 4 threes) from the field.
However, WU got its sea legs in the third quarter as they outscored UNK by a 21-16 margin. They warmed up to 56% (9 of 16; 2 of 3 threes) from the field with the Lopers cooling off a bit. The Blue & Gold still led for much of the fourth and at 62-58 after a three-point play by Serbian sophomore post Tara Biocanin. WU led 58-56 a minute earlier, its first advantage since midway through the opening quarter.
But over the final four minutes, Washburn made 3 of 4 shots and went 7 of 10 at the line while UNK missed its final eight shots. Four WU starters reached double figures including guard Gabi Giovannetti (18) and post Yiibari Nwidadah (15). The ‘Bods finished plus three on the glass and committed two fewer turnovers.
For UNK, Weers reached 20 points for the fourth time (21) with Biocanin having 14 off the bench. She made 5 of 9 shots and 4 of 5 freebies to set a new career high. Finally, Lincoln senior point guard Jillian Aschoff tallied 11 points, six assists and six boards.
The Blue & Gold heads to Central Missouri on Saturday. The Jennies (4-3) fell in overtime to third-ranked Fort Hays State, 65-50, on Thursday.
