By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It was cold outside, but Washburn University women's basketball was hot from the start on Friday afternoon in Lee Arena, scoring 47 points in the first half to down Missouri Western 71-55 and earn a fourth straight win.
Washburn senior Payton Sterk (20) scored 20 of her game-high 22 points in Friday's 71-55 MIAA win over Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn improved to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in the MIAA while avenging an earlier loss to the Griffons (6-13, 2-8).
"I thought we did a really nice job in the first half with a lot of things we've been working on,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "We were solid defensively and stayed in front of the ball and I thought we got some really good looks offensively and weren't forcing.
"I thought our shot selection was great and a great team effort.''
It was the Griffons who took an early 9-7 lead with a pair of 3-pointers, but Washburn answered back with an 8-0 run, including five points from senior Payton Sterk, who had 20 in the first half.
"I think it definitely gets me going and gets the team going, too,'' Sterk said of her hot start.
The Ichabods shot 50.0 percent in the first quarter and ended the final minute on a 4-0 run to lead 21-14 after the opening quarter.
The Washburn run continued with the first four points in the second quarter, pushing the lead to double figures. A quick 5-0 burst was capped off by a 3-pointer from senior Gabi Giovannetti that pushed the lead up over 20 points.
While Washburn shot over 50.0 percent again in the second stanza, Missouri Western was held to just 2 of 8 shooting in the frame as the Ichabods built a 47-24 lead.
Out of the break Washburn's offense cooled off as they were held scoreless until junior Kellyn Hunter knocked down a jumper with 4:24 left in the quarter. She hit another shot to push the lead back over 20 points the next possession.
The Ichabod defense helped maintain the lead, with the Griffons hitting just 4 of 11 shots in the quarter.
The Griffons' offense picked up in the fourth quarter, scoring the first 10 points to make it a single-digit game with 6:38 remaining.
But Ichabod junior Britany Kogbara got a pair of shots to fall over the next few possessions to push the lead back into double digits. Missouri Western knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:06 remaining, but that was the last time it would get on the scoreboard as the Ichabods finished the game on a 6-0 run to put away a 16-point win.
The hot start helped Washburn shoot 40.7 percent for the game along with 8 of 17 (47.1) attempts from 3-point range. The Ichabods were also 19 of 22 at the free throw line.
On the other end the Griffons shot 16-49 overall and just 4-17 from 3-point range while getting to the line 29 times and knocking down 19.
The Ichabods narrowly lost the turnover battle 34-33 but held a 20-15 advantage in turnovers. Those turnovers generated 17 points for Washburn to just nine for the visitors. Bench scoring also favored the home squad 28-2.
Sterk finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-14 shooing and four triples while Kogbara added 10 points with a pair of steals and Hunter scored nine points with three assists.
Giovannetti and senior Aniah Wayne both chipped in with nine points.
Mia Morel and Ana Dias Oliveira both scored 15 points to lead Missouri Western.
The Ichabods will take their win streak on the road to face nationally-ranked Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
