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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

Playing for the first time in 11 days, Washburn University's women's basketball showed some rust at times Wednesday night.

But the Ichabods were able to pick up where they left off before the break, earning their third straight victory with a 71-50 non-conference win over Bethany at Lee Arena.

Washburn, now 4-7 on the season, played 17 players on the night, with 12 cracking the scoring column, as the Ichabods wrapped up the non-conference portion of their schedule.

"It was good for us to get out there and knock some rust off,'' Washburn coach Ron McHenry said. "Nobody got hurt and we got to play a lot of kids. I think it was a positive for us and we got exactly what we needed out of it.''

Former Hanover star Macy Doebele (30) came off the bench to score a game-high 14 points for Washburn in Wednesday's 71-50 win over Bethany at Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The Ichabods trailed just once in the game, at 2-0, and doubled up Bethany 20-10 at the end of the first quarter and opened up a 29-10 advantage at the 4:23 mark of the second quarter, with Macy Doebele (Hanover) hitting a 3-pointer to cap a 13-0 WU run -- four straight at the end of the first and nine to open the second.

Bethany did not score until there were just over three minutes left in the half but the Swedes scored nine straight to cut WU's lead to 29-19 with 1:13 remaining before the half.

Senior Hunter Bentley drained a 3-pointer to end the Bethany run, but Sarah Reiner scored the final bucket of the half to get the Swedes back within 32-21.

Both teams shot the ball well in the opening half (Bethany 52.9 percent, WU 54.2 percent), but neither team took very good care of the ball, combining for 32 first-half turnovers (18 by Bethany, 14 for Washburn).

Bethany, which played Wednesday's game as an exhibition, opened the second half with an 11-4 run to cut Washburn's lead to 36-32 with six minutes left in the third quarter, but the Ichabods ended the quarter with 15 straight points to take a commanding 51-32 lead, ending the quarter with a Aubree Dewey basket off a nifty tip pass from Emma Chapman.

Washburn went on to lead by 24 points, taking a 63-39 advantage with 5:27 remaining on a 3-pointer from former Shawnee Heights standout Alie Fulks.

Wabaunsee product Abby Oliver (22) scored 11 points in Wednesday's 71-50 Washburn win over Bethany. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Doebele led Washburn with a game-high 14 points off the bench, tying her career high, while Wabaunsee product Abby Oliver added 11 points, Bentley nine points and seven rebounds and Dewey eight points.

Doebele said the holiday break was good for the Ichabods, especially going into the bulk of the conference schedule.

"I think it was very good for us to be able to get off and obviously see our families,'' Doebele said. "Just to be home and see your family, it just kind of gives you a refresher.

"You're able to re-set and just come back with a better mindset and feel better all-around.''

 Autumn Garrett led Bethany (11-5 on the season) with 10 points while Sarah Reiner added eight.

Washburn will return to MIAA action on Friday, traveling to Central Missouri for a 2 p.m. contest.

That game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but moved up a day to expected winter weather.

WASHBURN WOMEN 71, BETHANY 50

Bethany 10 11 11 18 -- 50

Washburn 20 12 19 20 -- 71

BETHANY (11-5, game counted as exhibition)

Moore 2-4 0-0 4, Ferguson 1-2 2-2 4, Kimbrough 0-2 0-0 0, Unruh 1-4 0-0 3, Garrett 3-3 4-4 10, Dunn 2-4 0-0 5, Gleason 0-1 0-0 0, Green 0-4 0-0 0, Reiner 4-5 0-0 8, Kuhn 1-2 0-0 2, Lopez 0-0 0-0 0, Noll 0-1 2-2 2, Talbott 0-2 0-0 0, Banko 2-6 0-0 5, Moore 1-1 0-0 3, Claussen 2-2 0-0 4, Bartel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-43 8-8 50.

WASHBURN (4-7)

Cassaday 2-5 0-0 4, Gamble 2-4 2-2 7, Oliver 5-9 1-3 11, Bentley 4-9 0-0 9, Barrientos 2-7 0-0 4, Fulks 1-2 1-2 4, Dewey 3-5 2-2 8, Chapman 1-1 0-0 2, Sanz 1-3 0-0 3, Doebele 4-6 5-5 14, Willey 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 1-3 0-0 2, Glatczak 0-0 0-0 0, Schieferecke 0-0 0-0 0, Broadie 0-1 0-0 0, Hutley 0-0 0-0 0, Newfarmer 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 27-56 11-14 71.

3-point shots – Bethany 4-10 ( Dunn 1-1, Moore 1-1, Unruh 1-2, Banko 1-3, Kimbrough 0-1, Green 0-1,Kuhn 0-1). Washburn 6-16 (Bentley 1-3, Doebele 1-2, Gamble 1-3, Fulks 1-2, Sanz 1-2, Newfarmer 1-1, Dewey 0-1, Oliver 0-1, Barrientos 0-1). Rebounds – Bethany 17 (Ferguson three), Washburn 36 (Bentley seven). Assists – Bethany 7 (Noll two), Washburn 18 (Gamble five). Turnovers – Bethany 22, Washburn 18. Total fouls – Bethany 15, Washburn 11. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.