By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
BAYAMON, P.R. -- Washburn University women's basketball won its 1,000th game in program history in blowout fashion on Monday afternoon as the Ichabod defeated Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 83-28 in the first game of the Puerto Rico Clasico.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah led the way with 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Washburn's 83-28 win Monday in Puerto Rico. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will finish off the Puerto Rico trip against Ana G Mendez at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
It was all Washburn (5-6) early on, with the Ichabods scoring the first 10 points of the game while holding the Gallitos (0-3) scoreless until the 5:17 mark in the quarter.
Six straight Ichabod points came from junior Yibari Nwidadah, who had 10 in the quarter, and pushed the lead back to 12-points. The hot-shooting carried throughout the team, shooting with WU 10-14 (71.4 percent) in the quarter to lead 24-12.
After a 5-0 start to the second quarter for Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, the next 17 points in the game came from Washburn, beginning with a layup by Emajin McCallop at 6:58 and ending with Nia McKenzie scoring in the final minute of the half. The Ichabods went into the half leading 43-18.
Coming out of the break Washburn scored the first 14 points, pushing the lead up to 39 after another bucket from McKenzie.
The Gallitos were held to just three points in the quarter, all coming consecutively, as they shot 1-10 with six turnovers. Willow Gideon scored the final three points of the quarter at the line, making it 60-21 after three.
The Ichabods continued to grow the lead and spread the ball around, with all 13 players suiting up entering the scoring column.
The advantage grew to a game-high 57 points after Cloie Jansky scored four points, the first four of her career, in the final three minutes.
Washburn ended with its largest margin of victory of 55 points, winning 83-28.
The 83 points came on 32-60 (53.3) shooting while making just four 3-pointers. The Ichabods had big advantages on the boards, 45-25 and in assists 20-8.
Points in the paint went big towards Washburn, 56-12, as did fast break points 27-2 and bench scoring at 41-16.
Nwidadah had a game-high 19 points on 8-11 shooting with eight rebounds and two blocks while McKenzie tied her career-high scoring 12 points off the bench and Aniah Wayne had 10 points.
Andrea Gonzelez and Joyce Hernandez each scored seven points to lead Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.
