Washburn’s women’s basketball team held on to a fourth quarter lead to win as Central Missouri’s rally came up short.

The Ichabods faced off with the University of Central Missouri Mules in Warrensburg, Missouri on Wednesday Jan. 27. The Ichabods entered the game 11-7 (now 12-7) after a recent loss to rival Emporia State, during which they showed an impressive defensive performance that was stopped short by a slight lack of offense. Central Missouri entered 7-10 (now 7-11), coming off a loss to Central Oklahoma on Jan. 23. In the conference standings, Washburn takes the fifth spot at 8-5 while Central Missouri falls two spots behind at seventh with a conference record of 7-6.

The Ichabods started the game with a 13-3 run fueled by 3-point shots from Erika Lane and Hayley Pfau while other Ichabods, like Alyxis Bowens, hit layups, giving the Ichabods a huge lead to start the game. Central Missouri responded with a 6-0 run to make the game 13-9 with 3:19 left in the first quarter. From there the Mules responded with a 7-2 run putting them ahead 15-16 with 1:31 left. The first quarter ended with a Washburn run putting the Ichabods up 21-16.

The second quarter saw less offense and became a defensive struggle as baskets came few and far between. Washburn put up 11 points throughout the quarter as momentum was shattered by defense and Central Missouri scored seven. As the buzzer hit zero, the score was 32-23 going into halftime.

Although the game went back and forth for much of the third quarter, Central Missouri cut into the lead, and brought it within two points when Shelby Winkelmann hit a layup after an offensive rebound with 6:32 left, making the score 34-32. The Ichabods took a 6-2 run in the next three minutes making it a 6-point game with three minutes left. The Mules hit the final shot in the quarter with 2:54 left making it 40-36.

The fourth quarter started with two free throws from the Mules bringing it within three points, 41-38. The back and forth continued for some time with neither team gaining an edge, going from as much as an 8-point difference back to three, with Washburn leading 49-46 with two minutes left. The game stayed close after free throws for both teams which made the score to 53-50 with Washburn leading with only 26 seconds left to play. The Ichabods scored free throw after free throw as the Mules were forced to foul to gain possession, but only made two shots in the last 10 seconds, closing the game 59-54, Washburn.

The Washburn women’s basketball team will be in action again on Saturday against Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, at 1:30 p.m. Washburn enters the game 12-7 on the season.