By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's women had plenty to play for in Thursday's home MIAA basketball contest against Lincoln in Lee Arena.
First of all, Lora Westling's Ichabods were trying to put a seven-game losing streak in the rearview mirror.
Washburn senior Aubree Dewey scored a game-high 19 points as the Ichabods snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 71-62 home MIAA win over Lincoln. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Yibari Nwidadah scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Thursday's 71-62 Washburn win over Lincoln in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But WU was also trying to wipe away the bad taste left by a 13-point road loss on Jan. 13 to the Blue Tigers, who have posted just two MIAA wins on the season.
The Ichabods achieved both those objectives in a 71-62 Pink Out Night win while surpassing their win total from the entire 2022-2023 season.
"We had a lot to play for tonight, just getting our confidence back, getting a win, and avenging a loss, especially with an event like tonight,'' Westling said. "We have so many incredible women in the stands to play for and that show real courage and fight (against breast cancer).
"We told our players, 'You get to go out tonight and play. A lot of people are having a lot more to battle so enjoy yourself and I thought we did for most of the game.''
Washburn, which improved to 12-13 overall and 7-12 in the conference, got 19 points from senior point guard Aubree Dewey while sophomore YIbari Nwidadah added 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds before fouling out with 2:50 remaining.
The Ichabods trailed the Blue Tigers (6-19, 2-17) in the early going but rallied to tie the game at 18-18 at the end of the opening quarter.
Washburn scored the first seven points of the second stanza to take a 25-18 lead and led 36-22 at the half after a Dewey hoop with 51.2 seconds remaining before the break.
Lincoln mounted a late charge in the fourth quarter to cut the Ichabods' lead to six points (67-61) inside the final minute but senior Lakyn Schieferecke canned two free throws with 37.8 seconds left to make it a three possession game.
All 10 players that saw action for Washburn cracked the scoring column, including four with seven or more points.
Fifty-one fouls were called in the game, with three players fouling out.
Lincoln stayed in the hunt with a 25 of 26 performance at the free throw line while Washburn hit 23 of 35 charities.
Washburn will be back at home Saturday to host Central Missouri in a 1 p.m. MIAA contest.
WASHBURN WOMEN 71, LINCOLN 62
Lincoln 18 4 20 20 -- 62
Washburn 18 18 21 14 -- 71
Lincoln (6-19, 2-17) – Bazylewicz 1-8 2-2 4, Nybo 2-4 4-4 10, Torres 3-11 7-7 14, Stocks 1-5 3-3 5, Alloway 7-13 2-2 16, Simmons 0-5 0-0 0, Bradley 3-6 4-4 10, Wolken 0-0 1-2 1, Jones 0-2 2-2 2, Beaumont 0-1 0-0 0, McCarty 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-55 25-26 62.
Washburn (12-13, 7-12) – Nwidadah 7-11 1-3 15, Dewey 5-15 8-10 19, Giovannetti 1-9 3-4 5, Schieferecke 1-3 2-4 4, Davison 1-3 5-8 7, Gamble 3-10 1-2 9. Wayne 1-6 0-0 3, McKenzie 1-4 2-2 4, Boyd 1-1 1-2 3, Amekporfor 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 22-63 23-35 71.
3-point goals — Lincoln 3-11 (Nybo 2-4, Torres 1-3, Bazylewicz 0-1, Stocks 0-1, Bradley 0-1, Beaumont 0-1), Washburn 4-17 (Gamble 2-7, Dewey 1-2, Wayne 1-3, Giovannetti 0-4, Schiefereke 0-1). Rebounds — Lincoln 40 (Alloway 12), Washburn 46 (Nwidadah 9). Assists — Lincoln 6 (Simmons 2), Washburn 16 (Dewey 7). Turnovers — Lincoln 15, Washburn 9. Fouled out — Nwidadah, Nybo, Simmons. Attendance — 1,435.
