By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the first time since Jan. 5, 2019 Washburn University women's basketball went to double overtime on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 65-61 decision at Northwest Missouri.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti scored a game-high 19 points in Saturday's 65-61 Washburn double-overtime loss at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
After rallying late in regulation to force overtime the Ichabods came up short in the second OT, dropping a four-point decision to the Bearcats.
In the opening minutes Washburn, 10-5 overall, 3-3 MIAA, was in control, leading 8-3 at the 5:27 mark after senior Gabi Giovannetti scored her second basket of the game.
The lead stayed at six inside the final two minutes of the quarter as the Bearcats were held to 1 of 12 shooting to begin the game. The home team finished on a 4-0 run and it was a 10-8 lead for the Ichabods after one.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams in the second quarter.
Washburn was held scoreless until a hoop by junior Britany Kogbara at the 4:34 mark. Both teams managed just one field goal as they combined for nine points in the quarter. The Ichabods went into the break still in front, leading 14-13.
With 7:50 remaining in the third quarter, Washburn junior Madelyn Amekporfor hit the first 3-pointer in the game for either team.
A pair of free throws by sophomore Brooke Gomez pushed the WU lead up to six points, but in the final minutes of the quarter Northwest Missouri flipped a three-point deficit into a five-point lead, going in front 33-28 after three.
After the opening minutes of the fourth quarter the Bearcats pushed the lead to nine points with 5:15 remaining.
Washburn answered with a 12-0 run across the next four minutes, with half of the points coming from Giovannetti.
Northwest Missouri scored four in a row to go in front by one. Giovannetti got a free throw to go in the final 10 seconds of regulation to tie the game back up and send it to overtime.
In the first extra period the Ichabods built the largest lead by either side at four points after senior Payton Sterk got a layup to go with 3:26 remaining.
The Washburn offense went cold over the last three minutes of overtime as the Bearcats scored four to tie it back up. Both sides had multiple stops inside the final minute to send the game to a second overtime tied at 53.
The lead continued to trade hands in the opening minutes of the second overtime.
Giovannetti hit a layup to put the Ichabods in front 59-58 with 1:12 remaining.
Northwest Missouri answered right back with a 3-pointer in the final minute that would put it in front for good. The home team went 4-4 at the free throw line to hold off the Ichabods.
Washburn shot 33.3 percent for the game while going just 2 of 19 from beyond the arc. On the other end the Bearcats shot 36.1% from the field overall and 6 of 20 from deep.
The Ichabods won the rebounding battle 47-42 and led 10-0 in second chance points.
Giovannetti led the game in scoring with 19 points on 8-15 shooting with four steals and five rebounds. Senior Yibari Nwidadah posted a third straight double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Kirsten Hauck led Northwest Missouri State with 15 points while four Bearcards cracked double figures.
The Ichabods will stay on the road for two more games, facing Emporia State at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday before closing out their road trip at Newman next Saturday.
