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The Washburn University women's basketball team ended the second quarter with a 13-3 scoring run to take the lead and never looked back as the No. 7-seeded Ichabods upset No. 2 seed and No. 15-ranked Central Missouri 63-55 Wednesday night on the road in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals.
The Ichabods, who improved to 12-11, will travel to Hays to take on No. 3 seed Nebraska-Kearney in an MIAA semifinal at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Senior Hunter Bentley, a second-team All-MIAA selection, hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute and a half of the first quarter to keep the game within two points (10-8) in favor of the Jennies.
Hunter Bentley
The second quarter went back and forth until a layup by Ichabod freshman Mackenzie Gamble ignited Washburn's 13-3 scoring run over the final 3:30 of the opening half to send Washburn into the break in front, 27-21.
After scoring just 4 points in the first half, Gamble was responsible for 14 of Washburn's 21 points in the third quarter, going 5 of 7 from the field with 4 3-pointers as Washburn took a 48-40 lead into the fourth quarter.
Holding a 10 point lead with 6:36 left in regulation, Washburn found itself in a scoring drought over the next nearly four minutes while Central Missouri chipped away at its deficit with a 6-0 run.
With 1:15 remaining and Washburn leading 56-51, the Jennies had a chance to make it a one possession game, but a steal by Macy Doebele was exactly what the Ichabods needed and the Jennies were forced to foul to stop the clock. The final points for both teams were on free throws as Washburn went 7 for 8 at the line to hold on for the upset victory.
Just five Ichabods scored in the game, but four finished in double figures.
Bentley led all scorers with 19 points and grabbed a team-high 7 rebounds while Gamble tallied 18 points, Nuria Barrientos 13 and Doebele 11.
Brooke Littrell led the Jennies with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
