By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
After a crushing loss to Benedictine College the week before, Washburn women’s basketball looked to get back on track Friday in the Washburn Thanksgiving Classic against Winona State University.
But a second-half shooting slump sunk the Ichabods chances, with Winona State taking a 56-45 loss at Lee Arena.
“I think defensively we fought hard but when you make what is it 12 field goals its probably a hard game to win,” Washburn coach Ron McHenry said.
The loss moved Washburn to 1-3 on the season and was the lowest point total for the Ichabods on the year.
Offense was hard to come by for both sides early on, but two 3s by freshman Mackenzie Gamble propelled Washburn to a 14-10 lead after ten minutes in a quarter where the Ichabods shot only 25 percent.
Macy Doebele led Washburn with 11 points in Friday's 56-45 loss to Winona State. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn found more balance on offense in the second quarter, shooting over 50 percent as a team. Senior Hunter Bentley got going, scoring two baskets while sophomore Macy Doebele knocked down a triple for three of her seven first half points.
Defense and rebounding stayed consistent, with the Ichabods leading 24-14 on the boards and 29-20 on the scoreboard at halftime.
“We had a great first half but we basically didn’t shoot it great, just out-toughed them on the boards and got some stuff there,” McHenry said.
Warriors guard Caitlin Riley came out of the break firing, knocking down jumpers on three straight possessions to pull Winona within two. Washburn’s offense was equally as stagnant, scoring only six points in the quarter as Winona State pulled ahead.
“We are really just struggling having those shots to fall, so we just have to step up confidently and knock them down, just kind of build off what we do in the first half and not let that slip away,” Doebele said.
Offensive struggles continued in the fourth quarter, as the Ichabods put up only two points in the first five minutes and the Warriors lead grew to double digits. The Washburn comeback would not get closer than six points as Winona State coasted to the win.
“Just run the system, we are trying to re-invent the game out there every once in a while when the defense gets good on us,” McHenry said on the team's offensive struggles as of late.
Doebele led the way with 11 points and seven rebounds and was joined in double figures by sophomore Abby Oliver who finished with 10 points.
The Ichabods outrebounded the Warriors 43-33 in the game, led by freshman Lauren Cassaday with seven. And freshman Aubree Dewey dished out four of Washburn’s 13 assists, most on the team.
The Ichabods will take on Rockhurst University on Saturday in the second day of the Washburn Thanksgiving Classic.
WINONA STATE WOMEN 64, WASHBURN 61
WINONA STATE 10 10 18 18 -- 56
WASHBURN 14 15 6 10-- 45
WINONA STATE (4-0)
Hustad 5, Fee 8, Riley 12, Fech 4, Kieck 9, Sergio 11, Schimenz 2, Alexander 2, Schrimpf 0, Dornfeld 3, Hahn 0. Totals 22-57 8-9 56.
WASHBURN (1-3)
Cassaday 0, Gamble 6, Glatczak 2, Bentley 4, Doebele 11, Dewey 0, Oliver 10, Sanchez 4, Barrientos 4, Johnson 4, Chapman 0. Totals 19-60 4-4 45.
3-point shots – Winona State: 4-15 (Fee 0-1, Riley 2-4, Fech 0-2, Kieck 1-3, Sergio 0-1, Schimenz 0-1, Dornfeld 1-2, Hahn 0-1). Washburn: 3-24 (Gamble 2-9, Glatczak 0-1, Bentley 0-7, Doebele 1-2, Sanchez 0-2, Oliver 0-2, Barrientos 0-1). Rebounds – Winona State 33 (Hustad 6), Washburn 44 (Cassaday, Doebele 7). Assists – Winona State 8 (Fee, Kieck, Schimenz 2), Washburn 13 (Dewey 4). Turnovers – Winona State 8, Washburn 14. Total fouls – Winona State 10, Washburn 17. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
