By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's women's basketball team gave itself an early Christmas present on Saturday, a 79-62 MIAA victory over Rogers State at Lee Arena.
Playing its final game before taking a 10-day holiday break, the Ichabods won back to back games for the first time all season while setting a high-water mark for points scored in a game as well as margin of victory.
"We're starting to get a little confidence, a little rhythm, a little rotation down and some kids getting their heads up to play,'' Washburn coach Ron McHenry said. "I'd love to play the next couple of days, but we're not going to be able to do that.
"It's a tough game so just to get a couple of wins and a little confidence, I can tell from practice to practice that we've got a little confidence in us, a little swagger and that mean's a huge deal. We were missing that, but you can't get it when you're losing games.''
Washburn senior Hunter Bentley (right), being congratulated by Emma Chapman, led the Ichabods with 15 points in Saturday's 79-62 MIAA win over Rogers State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Now 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA, Washburn led for 34 of 40 minutes Saturday while leading by as many as 20 points.
Washburn took a 19-18 lead on an Abby Oliver hoop with 25 seconds left in the opening quarter and went in front 38-29 at the half on a 3-pointer from Mackenzie Gamble at the buzzer.
The Ichabods led by as many as 20 points (51-31) after a 13-2 run to open the third quarter, but Rogers State (4-7, 0-5) cut the WU lead to 57-48 to end the third quarter.
Washburn regained control at that point, however, pushing their lead back to 20 late in the contest.
Senior Hunter Bentley led Washburn with 15 points while Oliver and Shae Sanchez added 14 points apiece and Lauren Cassaday pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
Former Wabaunsee star Abby Oliver scored 14 points Saturday as Washburn posted its second straight win, a 79-62 MIAA decision over Rogers State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Lauren Cassaday pulled in a game-high 11 rebounds in Washburn's 79-62 win over Rogers State Saturday at Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Like McHenry, Sanchez said it's good to see the Ichabods coming around as a team.
"We didn't start the season out the way we wanted to or the way we intended, but it's a long season and that doesn't mean we can't flip it around and start getting some wins and get on a roll and come into the conference with some heat now,'' Sanchez said.
Washburn shot 54.1 percent from the field while also out-rebounding the Hillcats by a 46-20 margin.
Rogers State's Julie Luna scored a game-high 18 points with three 3-pointers while Katrina Christian added 11 points and Jordan Lewis 10.
Washburn will return to the court on Dec. 29, hosting Bethany in a non-conference contest.
WASHBURN WOMEN 79, ROGERS STATE 62
Rogers State 18 11 19 14 -- 62
Washburn 19 19 19 22-- 79
ROGERS STATE (4-7, 0-5)
Day 3-5 1-2 7, Kliewer 3-7 2-4 9, Whiteley 1-2 2-2 4, Christian 5-13 0-0 11, Luna 7-12 1-1 18, Schroeder 0-1 0-0 0, Lewis 5-14 0-1 10, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Baker-Bruce 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 25-68 6-10 62.
WASHBURN (3-7, 2-3)
Cassaday 3-6 0-0 6, Gamble 3-8 0-0 8, Oliver 7-10 0-0 14, Bentley 6-10 0-0 15, Barrientos 1-5 2-3 4, Sanchez 6-12 0-0 14, Doebele 3-4 2-2 8, Dewey 1-2 1-2 3, Chapman 1-1 1-2 3, Sanz 0-1 0-0 0, Glatczak 0-0 0-0 0, Willey 0-0 0-0 0, Schieferecke 1-1 0-0 2, Broadie 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 33-61 6-9 79.
3-point shots – Rogers State 6-16 (Luna 3-5, Kliewer 1-2, Christian 1-4, Baker-Bruce 1-2, Day 0-1, Schroeder 0-1, Lewis 0-1). Washburn 7-18 (Bentley 3-6, Sanchez 2-4, Gamble 2-6, Barrientos 0-1, Sanz 0-1). Rebounds – Rogers State 20 (Three with four), Washburn 46 (Cassaday 11). Assists – Rogers State 8 (Whiteley 5), Washburn 25 (Barrientos six, Bentley five). Turnovers – Rogers State 8, Washburn 15. Total fouls – Rogers State 13, Washburn 15. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
