By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball delivered a full 40-minute effort on Friday night in Day 1 of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Classic in Lawton, Okla., knocking off Western Colorado, 59-43.
Senior Payton Sterk led a balanced Washburn attack with 15 points in Friday's 59-43 tournament win over Western Colorado. [File photo/TSN]
Ichabod senior Payton Sterk opened the scoring in the game's first 15 seconds with a 3-pointer as 8-3 Washburn scored the first five points of the game.
The Mountaineers (5-4) responded with an 8-3 run to pull within three. Defensively the Ichabods were able to hold Western Colorado in check after that in the opening quarter as it shot just 25.0 percent overall, helping Washburn lead 15-9.
Both sides slowed down to begin the second quarter with just nine total points in the first five minutes of action. With the lead at just two points the Ichabods got four in a row from senior Gabi Giovannetti in the final minutes of the quarter to lead 26-20 heading into the break.
After trading baskets to open the third quarter Washburn pushed the lead to double figures, with Sterk drilling another 3-pointer to make it 35-25 at the 5:18 mark. An old-fashioned three-point play late in the quarter by Nia McKenzie made it a 15-point game as the Ichabod defense held the Mountaineers to under 30.0 percent shooting in the quarter once again.
Western Colorado turned around its offensive attack in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to six points at the 5:08 mark. Ichabod junior Britany Kogbara put a stop to the run with an and-one conversion that started a 12-0 run for Washburn that lasted into the final minute of action as they went on to win, 59-43.
The Ichabod offense shot 42.6 percent from the floor while going 5 of 11 from deep and 14-17 at the free throw line line in an all-around efficient effort. The defense was equally as stifling, holding the Mountaineers to just 31.9 percent shooting and 5-18 from three-point range.
Washburn won the turnover battle 22-14 leading to a 14-9 advantage in points off giveaways. They also had a 26-14 edge in paint scoring.
Sterk led the Ichabods with 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting to go along with four steals.
Sophomore Brooke Gomez had a season-high 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting and three steals while Giovannetti had 10 points. Six players finished with five or more points while all 14 Ichabods logged minutes.
Alyssa Eckroth had a team-high 10 points for Western Colorado.
The Ichabods will finish off the tournament on Saturday, facing the host Cameron at 4 p.m.
