By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Heading into a busy final week of its regular season the Washburn women’s basketball had fallen below .500 after two straight losses as they played host to Northeastern State Tuesday evening.
The Ichabods got back to their bread and butter with a strong defensive effort that led to a 71-49 win over the RiverHawks at Lee Arena.
Twenty-two points is the largest win for Washburn this season with only two more regular-season games to play.
“Defensively we were pretty on que with the game plan,” Washburn coach Ron McHenry said. “Offensively, it was one of those games I look for a lot with a lot of kids in the scoring column and a lot of assists … offensively we played pretty clean.”
Washburn celebrates a play during Tuesday's 71-49 home MIAA win over Northeastern State. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The Ichabods moved to 13-13 with the win and 11-9 in MIAA play.
Washburn was locked in defensively from the start, holding Northeastern State to just 22 percent shooting and to nine points in the first quarter. Offensively seven Ichabods got in the scoring column in Washburn’s 17-point first quarter.
Two early second-quarter drives from senior Nuria Barrientos gave her eight early points and put the Ichabods up by 12. The lead would grow to as many as 16 in the half after five straight points from sophomore Hannah Willey who played a season high 16 minutes in the game.
“She has just always stood in there and waited for us. It’s my fault that I didn’t get her in earlier, last year she finished the year for us nicely,” McHenry said. “She is a real smart player, she can hit an open shot and knows our system well.”
Offensive rebounding was the only thing keeping Northeastern State in the game. Four straight points for the RiverHawks to end the half made it a 34-22 game after 20 minutes.
Washburn’s scoring was consistent throughout the third quarter, beginning with six early points on drives from freshman Aubree Dewey to help make it a 20-point game. Dewey had also entered the starting lineup for the second time in the season.
“I’ve talked to her about if you just get us into our stuff, guard somebody and get us organized … and then shoot it when you’re supposed to and that’s what she did tonight,” McHenry said.
Shae Sanchez led Washburn with 13 points in Tuesday's 71-49 MIAA victory over Northeastern State, her former team. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Two late 3-pointers from senior guard Shae Sanchez, playing against her former team, made it the game 58-35 after three quarters.
“Definitely feeling a little more energized, when I went to NSU and didn’t have a great game but to be here and … have coaches of all sports telling me, ‘Go have a great game,’” Sanchez said. “As hard as it is to play against some of my really great friends it was just a really great team win.”
The RiverHawks started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run which was quickly put to rest by a 3-pointer from senior guard Hunter Bentley and a layup from freshman forward Lauren Cassaday making her the first player in double figures for the Ichabods.
That is all of the resistance that Northeastern State would mount and under the five-minute mark each side emptied the bench. Washburn led by as many as 26 points before ultimately claiming a 71-49 win.
Sanchez finished with 13 points to lead the Ichabods, including three 3-pointers. Cassaday had 12 points on 4-5 shooting. Bentley, Barrientos and sophomore Macy Doebele each added eight points in a balanced performance.
“Our offense was flowing, we had 18 assists so people were looking for the open shooter, it was just good for us,” Sanchez said.
“We needed some momentum, we got beat twice on the road, one we didn’t play real well and one we got beat in overtime. This is a grind right now,” McHenry said. “You need to catch some momentum and tonight was a big game for that.”
The Ichabods will stay at home to take on Missouri Southern for Senior Night Thursday.
WASHBURN WOMEN 71, NORTHEASTERN STATE 49
Washburn 17 17 24 13 -- 71
Northeastern State 9 13 13 14 -- 49
Northeastern State (6-21, 4-17)
Hackler 0-4 0-0 0, Collins 6-14 4-6 16, Langstaff 8-17 0-0 17, Mo. Lee 1-5 0-0 2, Me. Lee 1-3 2-2 5, Lay 1-5 0-0 2, Barrow 0-1 0-0 0, Co. Lee 0-2 1-2 1, Tomokino 1-1 0-0 2, Kindred 0-0 0-0 0-2 0, Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Wietelman 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 19-56 7-12 49.
Washburn (13-13, 11-9)
Dewey 3-7 0-0 6, Oliver 2-3 3-3 7, Bentley 3-9 2-5 8, Barrientos 4-10 0-0 8, Doebele 2-3 4-4 8, Sanchez 5-8 0-0 13, Willey 2-4 0-0 5, Cassaday 4-5 4-4 13, Chapman 2-2 0-0 4, Schieferecke 0-1 0-0 0, Fulks 0-1 0-0 0, Sanz 0-0 0-0 0, Broadie 0-0 0-0 0.
3-point shots – Northeastern State 4-18 (Hackler 0-3, Collins 0-1, Langstaff 1-3, Mo. Lee 0-2, Me. Lee 1-1, Lay 0-2, Barrow 0-1, C. Lee 0-1, Tomokino 1-1, Brown 0-1, Wietelman 1-2). Washburn 6-17 (Dewey 0-1, Bentley 2-5, Barrientos 0-1, Doebele 0-1, Sanchez 3-5, Willey 1-3, Fulks 0-1). Rebounds – Northeastern State 29 (Collins, Langstaff 6), Washburn 36 (Oliver 5). Assists – Northeastern State 9 (Collins 3), Washburn 18 (Bentley 5). Turnovers – Northeastern State 13, Washburn 13. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.
