By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Five Washburn University women's basketball players reached double figures in scoring while Abby Oliver and Macy Doebele registered double-doubles in Thursday's 67-55 MIAA road win at Lincoln.
Senior Hunter Bentley made program history again at the start of the game as she passed April Roadhouse (2002-06) for the most games played in a Washburn uniform.
Bentley has played in every Washburn game since her 2017-18 freshman season and has now competed in 136 games in her career.
Senior Hunter Bentley made Washburn women's basketball history when she played in her 136th career game Thursday night at Lincoln. [File photo/TSN]
Thursday's first quarter was back and forth as there were five lead changes and two ties.
Washburn (11-11, 9-7 MIAA) took the lead with a 6-0 run starting at the 1:35 mark before the Blue Tigers hit a jumper to cut the Ichabod lead to 13-10 at the end of the opening period.
Lincoln (5-18, 1-16 MIAA) leveled the score at 13 and then 17 before Shae Sanchez sparked an 8-0 spurt to put the Ichabods up, 25-17, with 3:05 left in the first half.
The Blue Tigers fought back and scored nine unanswered points, capped off by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to hold a 26-25 advantage at halftime.
The Ichabod offense got off to a hot start in the second half as WU opened the third quarter on a 12-2 scoring tear to go in front, 37-28, at the midway mark.
Washburn outscored Lincoln 23-12 in the quarter and held a 48-38 lead heading into the fourth.
The Blue Tigers hit two free throws to begin the fourth frame and pull within eight points, but they would get no closer as Washburn closed out the double-figure victory.
Washburn finished the night shooting 36.8 percent from the field while Lincoln had a 32.3 field goal percentage. WU made 5 of 17 attempts from 3-point distance while LU was 3 of 15. The Ichabods dominated on the glass and pulled down 20 more rebounds than the Blue Tigers, 53-33.
Sanchez scored a season-high 15 points off the bench and was a perfect 3 for 3 from behind the arc.
Doebele notched a double-double after she made 7 of 10 shots from the field for 14 points to go with 11 boards, five assists, and two steals.
Bentley contributed 13 points and six rebounds and Nuria Barrientos was right behind with 12 points and seven rebounds. Oliver achieved her first double-double of the season, totaling 11 points and 10 rebounds while dishing out four assists.
The Blue Tigers had three players finish in double-digits and were paced by Hya Haywood's 15 points.
The Ichabods will return home to host their Pink Out Game against Central Missouri on Saturday at 1 p.m.
