Another game equaled another dominating performance for the No. 4 Washburn Lady Blues basketball team. With six different players reaching double-figures scoring, the Lady Blues delivered a knock-out punch against the Truman State Bulldogs, defeating them by a score of 94-63 at Lee Arena last Saturday. The Lady Blues improved their record to 21-2 overall, and 12-2 in the MIAA. Brooke Ubelaker, Washburn senior forward, and Corky Stiger, Washburn junior guard, led the Lady Blues balanced scoring attack with 19 points each. Washburn senior guard Cindy Keeley registered her second career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“I think it brings a lot more energy to the team when you’re able to push the ball and get fast break layups like we did tonight,” said Jessica Aebi, Washburn senior guard. “Regional play is where it counts. We’re going to play hard every game until then, but we need everybody on top of their game for regional play, and I think right now everything is clicking for us, which is how we need to play the rest of the year.”

Stiger had a big first half with 13 points, which helped the Lady Blues to a 13 point halftime lead, 47-34. Aebi hit a 3-pointer with 16:45 remaining in the game to extend the Lady Blues lead to 56-39. Later in the half, Aebi hit a jump shot to put the Lady Blues comfortably in front 75-50. Washburn cruised the rest of the way in route to the 31-point victory. The Lady Blues shot 52 percent from the field for the game, connecting on 35 of 68 attempts, while also out-rebounding the Bulldogs 43-28. The Lady Blues scored 21 points in transition, while holding the Bulldogs to zero fast break points.

The next three Lady Blues’ games are on the road, as they face Northwest Missouri State at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 in Maryville, Mo. The Lady Blues then face rival Emporia State at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, in Emporia, and then finish the road trip when they match up against Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 21 in Hays, Kan. The Lady Blues will then return to Lee Arena for their final regular season game against Central Missouri State at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24.

“We have to play cleaner. I thought we played pretty good in stretches tonight,” said Ron McHenry, Lady Blues’ head basketball coach. “We were good in transition, but it all starts with defense. I thought our defense was sluggish early on but we finally got it in gear which helped us start two big runs. The basketball team is pretty locked in to what we need to do. We understand how we need to play, we understand that we need to shoot well and defend and rebound well, so we’re not going to readjust anything right now. I think the girls just wanted to play pretty, and play for the crowd, but it can be tough at times trying to fulfill everybody’s expectations. The middle of the season is a grind, but with only four games left, we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”