By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball bounced back from a Thursday night loss to No. 5-ranked Fort Hays State to pull away down the stretch to defeat Nebraska-Kearney 76-65 on the road Saturday afternoon.
Junior Madelyn Amekporfor led a balanced Washburn offensive attack with 13 points in Saturday's 76-65 MIAA road win at Nebraska-Kearney. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn improved to 15-6 overall and 8-4 in the MIAA with Saturday's win, earning a regular-season sweep over the Lopers, 11-12, 4-8.
It was a quick start offensively for Washburn as the Ichabods led 8-3 after a basket by senior Gabi Giovannetti at the 7:18 mark of the first quarter.
The Lopers tied it up but the Ichabod offense shot 50.0 percent in the opening frame to build an 18-14 lead.
The first of three 3-pointers for junior Madelyn Amekporfor pushed the lead to seven to open the scoring in the second. Nebraska-Kearney chipped away before tying the game up at 28.
The Lopers scored five in a row to go in front 37-35, but Washburn sophomore Brooke Gomez knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Ichabods up 38-37 at the half.
Both sides traded baskets for much of the third quarter while the Ichabods remained in front the whole way. The Ichabods created separation with the final four points coming from Gomez and junior Britany Kogbara to lead 57-52 heading into the fourth.
The Lopers made a run early in the fourth, tying the game at 59 with a 3-pointer at the 7:28 mark.
Washburn re-gained the lead but it was cut back down to one before the the Ichabods responded with an 8-0 run to lead by nine after junior Kellyn Hunter scored on a driving layup with 2:16 left.
Senior Payton Sterk put the game away with four free throws in the final minute to finish off the 11-point win.
Washburn shot a season-high 52.1 percent from the field along with an efficient 5-12 from 3-point range and 21-24 at the line. The Ichabods held the Lopers to 37.1-percent shooting while the home squad shot 41.7 percent from deep with 10 makes.
The rebounding battle was won by the Ichabods, 34-29, helping to generate a 34-22 advantage in paint scoring. Nebraska Kearney turned the ball over four fewer times than Washburn, but the Ichabods scored seven more points off giveaways.
Amekporfor led a balanced offensive effort for WU with 13 points along with four rebounds.
Kogbara had 12 on 4-5 shooting with four blocks while senior Aniah Wayne scored 11. Four other players had at least eight points in the game.
Myleigh Weers led the Lopers with 22 points while adding three assists.
The Ichabods have a week off between games before facing off with Central Missouri in Warrensburg next Saturday at 1 p.m.
