By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball picked up its second straight 22-point victory on Friday, dispatching Truman State 81-59 on Friday morning.
Washburn's women posted their second straight 22-point win Friday in Kirksville, Mo., rolling to an 81-59 win over Truman State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
After six games on the road to begin the season, the Ichabods will return home on Monday to host Lincoln in a 6 p.m. game in Lee Arena.
After falling behind 4-2 to start the game Washburn (2-4) got a layup by NIa McKenzie and a 3-pointer by Payton Sterk to go in front with 7:20 to play and the Ichabods would not look back the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs (2-3) shot a blistering 60.0 percent in the first quarter, but the Ichabods were able to lead 18-16 after one thanks to extra opportunities and limiting turnovers.
In the second quarter, it was Washburn that began to light the nets on fire. The Ichabods started the frame on a 10-2 run to lead by 10 after Emporia product Rebecca Snyder connected on her first career 3-pointer with 7:49 to play in the half.
Truman State continued to chip away at the lead and would trail by just four at the 2:04 mark. From that point on the Ichabods closed the half on a 7-0 run with five points coming from Sterk to lead 40-29 at the half. Washburn shot 75.0 percent (9-12) in the second quarter while going 4-6 from beyond the arc.
There was no rust coming out of the half as the Ichabods went on a 7-2 run to lead 47-31 after an old-fashioned three-point play from McKenzie. Washburn pushed the lead to a game-high 17-points in the third quarter after a triple by Aniah Wayne, who had seven points in the quarter.
Defensively, the Ichabods held the Bulldogs to 5-14 (35.7) shooting for a second straight quarter to lead by 15 going into the fourth.
A deep shot from Sterk and layup by Yibari Nwidadah pushed the lead up to 20 in the opening minute of the final quarter.
The advantage never dipped below 15 the rest of the way, with a free throw by Wayne in the final minute making the final lead a game-high 22 points in the 81-59 victory.
Washburn shot a season-high 55.0 percent from the floor while also going 9-22 (40.9) from three-point land. The Ichabods won the paint battle 46-30 and the bench outscored Truman State's benhc 31-15.
Defensively, Washburn forced 17 turnovers while committing just 12. The Ichabods also had a 35-30 rebounding advantage and dished out more assists as well, 15-11.
Sterk delivered her second straight 20-point game, scoring 22 on 8-15 shooting and 5-8 from deep.
Nwidadah had her first double-double on the year with 13 points on 5-6 shooting and 10 boards. Wayne added 11 points on 4-7 shooting off the bench.
Jordan Cunningham led the Bulldogs with 18 points on 5-7 shooting and Molly Joyce had 12 points.
