By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn women's basketball team outscored Rogers State 36-20 in the second half of Monday's MIAA makeup game, but a cold-shooting second quarter proved costly as the Ichabods dropped a 55-54 road game to fall to 10-11 overall and 8-7 in the conference.
Rogers State (10-13 overall, 6-11 MIAA) broke a five-all tie with a 3-pointer midway through the opening quarter to begin a 14-2 run to push its lead to 19-7 with 2:01 on the clock.
Abby Oliver made a layup and Hunter Bentley followed with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to single digits, but Rogers State remained in front, 20-12, at the end of the first quarter.
Hunter Bentley
Washburn's offense went cold in the second quarter as it hit just two of 10 shots from the field and made those two baskets in the final 90 seconds of the frame while Rogers State took a 35-18 advantage into the break.
The Ichabods came out firing to start the second half and outscored the Hillcats 20-9 to trim the deficit to 44-38 at the end of the third quarter.
Bentley started the fourth with a bang with another 3-pointer as the Ichabods kept the game within reach throughout the quarter.
Washburn pulled within a point with 2:29 left and then again with 48 seconds left when Bentley hit a pair of free throws, but the Ichabods were unable to complete the comeback as their last-second shot fell short of the basket.
Bentley made all six of Washburn's 3-pointers and was one point shy of tying her career-high with a 28-point game and also added five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Nuria Barrientos and Oliver both added 10 points.
Three players from Rogers State finished in double figures, led by Vanessa Gajdosova's 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Washburn will travel to Lincoln on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game.
COLD SPELLS DOOM WASHBURN MEN
The end of the first half and the end of the game cost Washburn University's men in a 77-60 loss at Rogers State on Monday.
The Ichabods (13-9, 10-6 MIAA) led 32-26 with 4:36 to play in the first half, but the Hillcats (14-8, 8-8 MIAA) finished the half on a 15-2 run to take a 41-34 lead into halftime.
Jalen Lewis
Starting the second half, Washburn went on a 10-2 run of its own to take a 44-43 lead after a 3-pointer by Jalen Lewis, who hit his Washburn record-breaking 243rd career 3-pointer to break Shannon Kruger's career mark of 243 in the first half.
Rogers State came back with a 6-0 run of its own, but Washburn tied the score at 49 with 10:37 to play in the game.
From that point on the Ichabods were outscored 28-11, including a 16-3 run to end the game over final 5:28.
Washburn had four double-figure scorers, led by Tyler Geiman's 15 points, and Geiman added seven assists and three steals.
Jeremy Harrell had 11 points and led the team with six rebounds while Lewis and Michael Keegan both added 10 points for the Ichabods.
David Pullum led the Hillcats with a game-high 23 points, pacing four Roger State players in double figures.
Washburn will be back in action on Thursday at Lincoln (7:30 p.m. start).
