By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It took awhile Monday night for Washburn University women basketball to prove it was the dominant team against former MIAA rival Lincoln.
Washburn junior Yibari Nwidadah (middle) posted game-high totals of 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Ichabods stretched their winning streak to three games with Monday's 80-55 in over Lincoln. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But there was no doubt who the most dominant player on the floor was, with 6-foot-2 junior center Yibari Nwidadah turning in a huge performance with 25 points and 12 rebounds as Washburn took control in the second half for an 80-55 win over the Blue Tigers in WU's home opener in Lee Arena.
"We like Bari against almost anybody,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "We liked Bari against the Big 12 teams (Kansas State and Kansas in exhibitions). She does the work and she's coming along, she's getting more confident, and she's going to be dominant for us.''
Nwidadah said she's worked at being more aggressive on the court.
"Coach has talked to me a lot about being dominant and stepping up into that dominant mindset and just going out and going after everyone,'' Nwidadah said. "It's just like no matter who's in front of me I'm going to go out and be the same person every time.''
Washburn, which has now posted three straight wins by at least 22 points, struggled early against the Blue Tigers, trailing 21-16 after one quarter and trailing much of the second quarter before rallying late behind Nwidadah to take a 32-29 lead at the half.
But the Ichabods, who played without guard Aniyah Wayne due to an injury, took control with a 25-11 third quarter and a 23-15 fourth stanza to record their most lopsided win of the season.
"We knew we were going to struggle with some rotations with Aniyah going down yesterday and putting some people in some tough spots, but we just did not guard well enough in the first half and I thought we struggled turning the ball over,'' Westling said.
"It was just one of those really frustrating games. We couldn't get any momentum going, but credit to them, they fought back and kept fighting through it and our playmakers stepped up and got us a good win.''
Junior Payton Sterk (20) scored 18 points in Monday's 80-55 Washburn win over Lincoln in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn junior Gabi Giovannetti scored 14 points in Monday's 80-55 home win over Lincoln. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Nwidadah went 10 of 14 from the field and had an amazing eight offensive rebounds while junior Payton Sterk, who was named the MIAA Player of the Week earlier in the day, added 18 points and junior Gabi Giovannetti 14 for the Ichabods.
And after starting the season 0-4, Washburn will have an opporunity to reach .500 in Saturday's 4 p.m. game against Sterling.
"The first couple of weeks we learned where we needed to be better,'' Nwidadah said. "After the first week the second week we were much better, but it was just like that little hump that we couldn't get over, just little areas where we needed to be better.
"So it was just honing in on those little details and that's where we're seeing success.''
Ayreona Carter led Lincoln (1-1) with 19 points, the lone Blue Tiger to crack double figures.
WASHBURN WOMEN 80, LINCOLN 55
Lincoln 21 8 11 15 -- 55
Washburn 16 16 25 23 -- 80
LINCOLN (1-1)
Nybo 4-11 1-1 9, Carter 7-10 5-7 19, Cabrera 0-4 0-0 0, Sanders 1-7 2-4 4, Stocks 1-5 1-2 4, Gladney 2-4 0-1 5, Sportsman 1-1 0-2 2, Giddings 2-3 2-2 8, Wolken 0-0 0-0 0, Toran 1-4 2-2 4. Totals 19-49 13-21 55.
WASHBURN (3-4)
Amekporfor 2-6 0-0 4, Nwidadah 10-14 5-8 25, Gomez 0-2 1-2 1, Giovannetti 6-14 0-0 14, Sterk 6-15 4-4 18, Snyder 0-1 0-0 0, Davison 3-4 0-0 7, McCallop 0-1 1-2 1, McKenzie 2-4 1-2 5, Gideon 0-0 0-0 0, Boyd 0-0 1-2 1, Luebbert 1-1 1-2 4. Totals 30-62 14-22 80.
3-point goals -- Lincoln 4-20 (Giddings 2-2, Stocks 1-3, Gladney 1-3, Nybo 0-4, Sanders 0-3, Carter 0-2, Toran 0-2, Cabrera 0-1), Washburn 6-14 (Sterk 2-6, Giovannetti 2-5, Luebbert 1-1, Davison 1-1, Amekporfor 0-1). Rebounds -- Lincoln 20 (Nybo 6), Washburn 47 (Nwidadah 12). Assists -- Lincoln 10 (Sanders 3), Washburn 16 (Giovannetti 4). Turnovers -- Lincoln 19, Washburn 17. Total fouls -- Lincoln 27, Washburn 22. Fouled out -- Nybo, Carter. Technical fouls -- Gladney.
