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By RICK PETERSON

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Washburn University women's basketball rode a fourth-quarter comeback to knock off Nebraska Kearney 71-65 Thursday night in Lee Arena in the Ichabods' MIAA opener.

Senior Yibari Nwidadah (32) celebrates a big basket late in the game in Washburn's come-from-behind 71-65 MIAA win over Nebraska-Kearney. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

While happy overall with the Ichabods' start to the season, Washburn coach Lora Westling has lamented the Ichabods' penchant for making things tougher than they need to be at times.

That bugaboo showed up again Thursday night, with the Ichabods trailing much of the game, but Washburn played its best when it needed it the most, taking control down the stretch.

"We've just got to settle in earlier and that's been a struggle,'' Westling said. "They'll respond and we'll put up a fight, we're not going to get kicked down, but we'd like to be a little more aggressive to start the fight.

"But I was really proud of our team down the stretch and I thought we got some big plays and especially some big stops. Our seniors didn't quit, they showed great resilience, and that's why you love to have seniors on your team.''

"We do definitely make it harder than we need to,'' WU senior Payton Sterk said. "but I think we do make it count when it's important and I think we were really good at dialing in our energy and really focusing in that second half and that's what won the game.''  

The Ichabods (5-2 overall, 1-0 MIAA) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead while holding the Lopers (4-5, 0-1) scoreless until the 6:22 mark.

A hoop from Britany Kogbara made it 11-4 Washburn with 3:37 left in the opening quarter, but Nebraska Kearney finished the quarter on an 11-3 run, including the final seven points to lead 15-14. 

Early in the second quarter Madelyn Amekporfor scored to put Washburn back in front, but the Lopers scored the next eight points as they held the Ichabods to 27.8-percent shooting from the floor in the quarter and Kearney held a 33-26 lead at the break.  

The deficit for Washburn reached nine points midway through the third quarter, but a bucket by senior Yibari Nwidadah started a 7-0 run to pull the Ichabods within two. 

Nebraska-Kearney led 49-47 going into the fourth stanza, but Washburn finally broke through to tie the game at 53 on a Kogbara basket.

Payton Sterk drove for a layup to put the Ichabods in front 58-56 with 5:48 to go.

The Lopers rallied to go back up by four, but Washburn answered with six in a row, the final four from senior Gabi Giovannetti.

An old fashioned three-point play by Nwidadah in the final minute put the Ichabods in front for good and the Ichabods held on to win, 71-65. 

Washburn shot 44.4 percent for the game while only going 3 of 14 from 3-point range. The Lopers were held to 22-58 shooting and hit six 3-pointers.  

The Ichabods held a 38-35 advantage on the boards and points in the paint were dominated by the home squad, 50-28.  

Giovannetti led four players in double figures for Washburn with 18 points while Nwidadah had 15 points with three blocks and seven rebounds. 

Sterk added 14 points and Amekporfor chipped in 10.  

Myleigh Weers led Nebraska Kearney with 21 points, while Jillian Aschoff had 11 with six assists.

The Ichabods return to action Saturday against No. 3-ranked Fort Hays State, with tipoff set for 1 p.m.   

WASHBURN 71, NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 65

Nebraska-Kearney 15 18 16 16 -- 65

Washburn               14 12 21 24 -- 71

Nebraska-Kearney (4-5, 0-1) -- Sears 3-10 2-2 8, Green 1-1 0-0 2, Aschoff 3-9 4-4 11, Weers 7-13 4-6 21, Byczkowska 2-10 1-2 7, Simmons 1-6 0-0 2, Biocanin 5-9 4-5 14, Rowan0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 15-19 65.

Washburn (5-2, 1-0) -- Amekporfor 3-9 4-7 10, Nwidadah 7-10 1-1 15, Gomez 1-3 0-0 2, Giovannetti 6-12 3-4 18, Sterk 5-14 4-5 14, Hunter 0-3 0-0 0, Wayne 2-4 0-0 4, Kogbara 3-4 0-0 6, McKenzie 1-3 0-0 2, Jackson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-63 12-17 71.

3-point shots -- Nebraska-Kearney 6-24 (Weers 3-4, Byczkowska 2-10, Aschoff 1-4, Sears 0-3, Simmons 0-3), Washburn 3-14 (Giovannetti 3-6, Sterk 0-3, Amekporfor 0-2, Gomez 0-1, McKenzie 0-1, Jackson 0-1). Rebounds -- Nebraska-Kearney 35 (Biocanin 8), Washburn 38 (Nwidadah 7). Assists -- Nebraska-Kearney 13 (Ashoff 6), Washburn 15 (Giovannetti 4, Hunter 4). Turnovers -- Nebraska-Kearney 17, Washburn 15. Total fouls -- Nebraska-Kearney 19, Washburn 16. Fouled out -- none.