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Washburn University women's basketball used a huge third quarter to post its fifth straight victory and 20th win of the season Wednesday in Lee Arena, defeating Pittsburg State, 71-56. 

Washburn senior Gabi Giovannetti (5) scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds Wednesday as the Ichabods reached the 20-win plateau with a 71-56 decision over Pittsburg State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Now 20-7 overall and 13-5 in the MIAA, Washburn trailed by six points, 35-29, at halftime, but broke the game open with a 22-2 third quarter en route to the decisive 15-point win.

"We made some adjustments and really executed things well and finally got some stops which allowed us to get into our transition game,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "I'm really proud of my team.''

Washburn has now reached 20 wins for the first time since the 2018-19 season and for the first time in Westling's four seasons as the Ichabods' head coach, but the Ichabod coach said there's still work to be done.

"I think anytime you get that done for a team, a 20-win season, is a nice thing, but we want that 21st, we want that 22nd,'' Westling said. "I'm proud of this group and we'll enjoy it tonight but then get right back to work for Saturday.''  

Both sides traded baskets early on, with five ties in the first quarter alone. A 5-0 run by the Gorillas (18-9, 11-7) created some separation. Both teams shot under 35.0 percent in the first quarter, but Pittsburg State went 8-9 at the free throw line put the Gorillas in front 17-12 at the start of the second stanza.  

Washburn fell behind by as many as eight points early in the second quarter. A 6-0 Washburn run kept it close after senior Payton Sterk got a layup to go at the 7:29 mark.

The Gorillas got hot from deep in the quarter, shooting 6-7 from 3-point range, with three coming inside the final four minutes to lead 35-29 at the break.

Sophomore Brooke Gomez scored 10 points, all in the second half, as Washburn posted a 71-56 decision over Pittsburg State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]  

The first eight points of the second half came from the Ichabods, including the first six from sophomore Brooke Gomez, as the Ichabods went in front to stay.

Pittsburg State knocked down a jumper with 6:11 remaining in the quarter, which would be the only points it scored in the 10-minute period.

"I thought we were much more aggressive,'' Westling said. "We didn't have enough ball pressure in the first half. They were picking us apart with a lot of those skips and some reversals off of our pressure, so we knew we had to lock down and anticipate more on the weakside and I thought we executed that really well.'' 

Washburn's offense continued to churn, finishing the quarter shooting 52.6 percent and on a 14-0 run to lead 51-37.  

The Gorilla offense picked up its pace to start the fourth, cutting the lead down to seven points at the 5:32 mark.

But a 3-pointer by Washburn senior Aniah Wayne pushed the lead back into double figures and started a 6-0 run for the Ichabods.

The lead never dipped below 10 points the rest of the way, with free throws putting the game away down the stretch. 

Washburn finished the game shooting 42.2 percent with five 3-pointers.

The Ichabods out-rebounded the Gorillas 45-26 including 16 offensive boards. That led to a 38-14 advantage in paint scoring along with 16-9 in second chance points.  

Wayne came off the bench to connect on three of four 3-pointers to lead a balanced Washburn attack with 11 points.

"It just comes from my teammates,'' Wayne said. "Them believing in me and me putting that belief in myself, it's just kind of knowing that we've been through this before and it's nothing new and just kind of having that as motivation if we're down.

"It's not giving up and to keep going and it pays off. All the hard work we've put in, going back to preseason, it's really paid off.''

Giovannetti had 10 points along with seven rebounds, while junior Britany Kogbara had 10 off the bench with two blocks and Gomez also had 10 points, all in the second half.  

Clara Swearingen led Pittsburg State with 11 points while Marin Adams and Ja'Mya Brown scored 10 apiece.