By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's women's basketball team notched its first MIAA win on Saturday at Newman, with the Ichabods notching a six-game losing streak with a 51-40 win over the Jets.
Washburn, 2-7 overall, 1-3 in the MIAA, got things started with back-to-back shots made from Abby Oliver and a 3-pointer from Hunter Bentley.
The Ichabods led 7-3 before getting into foul trouble. The Jets made four free throws to tie the game.
Bentley later would hit back-to-back 3s to give Washburn a 15-11 lead, but a Laura Bello last-second layup tied the game again heading into the second quarter.
Once again Oliver got the Ichabods started in the second to take the 17-15 lead.
The Ichabods would not score again in the quarter until the 1:37 mark. It took the Jets almost three minutes before they made a free throw to draw within one then eventually take the 22-17 lead over Washburn. Sanchez ended the Ichabods drought with a three. The Jets hit a three of their own to end the half to head into the break with the 25-22 lead.
In the third, Washburn got off to a hot start with a 12-2 run as Nuria Burrientos had six points in that span.
Oliver scored and Bentley hit her fourth triple to go into the fourth quarter with a 39-31 lead.
The Ichabods kept their momentum going as they took a double-digit lead four minutes into the fourth quarter. Washburn would hold onto that lead for the rest of the game.
Washburn had a 41.7 field goal percentage on the afternoon while Newman shot 37.5 percent. The Ichabods made six of eight free throws despite not taking one in the first half.
A difference in the game was that Washburn outrebounded the Jets 32-25 and WU's play in the third quarter.
Bentley scored 19 points with four 3-pointers while Barrientos earned her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Oliver scored 12 points on six-of-11 shooting and grabbed five rebounds, distributed four assists, stole the ball twice and blocked three shots.
Britney Ho led the Jets with 12 points.
The Ichabods head back home to face Rogers State next Saturday at 4 p.m.