TOPEKA, Kan. - For the second straight game, the Winona State University women's basketball team used a big third quarter to erase a first half deficit and pull out a victory on the road.
Winona State (4-0, 1-0 NSIC) outscored Washburn University (1-3, 0-0 MIAA) with an impressive 18-6 run to open the second half and maintained the momentum needed in the fourth quarter to hold on for a Warrior win, 56-45.
The two teams traded buckets in the opening quarter of play with the host Ichabods earning a narrow 14-10 lead over the Warriors after 10 minutes. WSU was 0-of-3 from 3-point distance in the first stanza, while Washburn connected twice from behind the arc over that same time period.
A 5-0 run to open the second quarter helped Winona State climb back in into the game but Washburn closed the half with a run of their own to take a 24-20 lead into the locker room.
After the break,
Caitlin Riley rose to the occasion, scoring 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including two three pointers in the second half. Playing 35 minutes in the game, Riley had four rebounds and a steal.
Ava Sergio was second in scoring for Winona State, notching 11 points, blocking a shot and hauling in three rebounds coming off the bench.
Emily Kieck had nine points while
Lauren Fech was perfect from the foul line at 4-for-4 on the night.
Emma Fee was efficient in the paint for WSU, scoring eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Taylor Hustad was tops on the team in rebounds with six.
Washburn was led by Macy Doebele with 11 points. Lauren Cassaday had seven boards for the Ichabods, as did Doebele.
As a team, Winona State moves to 4-0 on the year, one of just three unbeaten teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) ranks, with Bemidji State (2-0) and Minnesota State - Mankato (4-0) also yet to lose on the year. Against Washburn, WSU scored 28 points in the paint and traded leads with the Ichabods on four occasions. Non-starters chipped in 18 points to the Warrior effort.
Winona State returns to the hardwood in the Washburn Thanksgiving Classic tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 27, taking on Northwest Missouri State University (3-1, 0-0 MIAA). Start time is set at 1pm.
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About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
