UNK WBB: Lopers Rally Falls Short in Topeka, 85-78
Junior guard Payton Sterk scored 30 points and junior post Yiibari Nwidadah (pronounced yuh bar-ee wha-dah-dah) went 8 for 8 from the field as Washburn held off Nebraska Kearney, 85-78, Saturday afternoon in Topeka.
The Ichabods (12-10, 6-6) snap an eight-game, six-year losing streak to the Lopers (15-5, 8-3) and improve to 6-2 at home. Back in December, UNK beat the 'Bods 66-61 but both Nwidadah and fellow starter Madelyn Amekporfor didn't play due to injury.
Coming off an 85-47 loss to No. 8 Fort Hays State on Thursday night, Washburn came out gunning and didn't miss. They hit six of their first seven threes with Nwidadah then making everything inside. She came in as Division II's leader in field goal percentage at 65.3%.
"We have to figure out as a coaching staff how to get them back right. We can't continue to be down at halftime and it's something that has happened a lot to us this year," said Loper head coach Drew Johnson. "In game like this, on the road, late in the year … you're just not to come back easily.”
Washburn led 25-17 after the opening quarter and built a 17-point lead before UNK whittled it down to 11 by halftime. Nwidadh picked up three quick fouls in the third quarter, but her teammates picked up the offensive slack and that included Sterk. A first-year transfer from D2 Cal State East Bay, she had a season-best 31 points against the Lopers at the H&S Center.
"Washburn came out hot, but you go back to the film. Number five drove it right hand three times and drew help. We didn't rotate correctly when Nwidadah caught the ball. We tried to front and didn't get down, so they threw it over the top," said Johnson. "They hit shots but our lack of rotation and being where we were supposed to be makes it so you're not in position to be the defender."
UNK got the deficit to 10 in the early stages of the second half before WU built it back up to 17. Like the first half, the Lopers hung around, got the deficit back to 11 and then made a move in the fourth quarter. A 12-0 run made it just a one possession game with 2:01 remaining. The four-minute stretch included Nwidadah fouling out, four WU turnovers and nine straight points from Kansas sophomore reserve Jordan Sears. However, Sterk made a layup on the left block and fouled out Lincoln junior point guard Jillian Aschoff on the play. That made it 74-70 and then she went 10 for 11 at the line over the final 1:34.
The Lopers still had its chances but missed an open three with 1:03 let down four and missed a layup at the 37 second mark trailing by five. Sears hit a top of the key three after a timeout, but UNK was just 7 of 26 from deep. In its last four games, the Blue & Gold is shooting 24% from behind the arch.
Nwidadah finished with 21 points and a rebound in 21 minutes of work with Sterk scoring 12 of her points in the fourth quarter. She was 7 of 15 from the field, 13 of 14 at the line and added five assists in playing a team-high 38 minutes. Next, Amekporfor had 12 points, eight boards and four dimes with junior guard Gabi Giovannetti at 13 points thanks to 3 of 5 triple shooting.
Sears had 12 of her team-high 20 points in the final quarter. She made 7 of 14 shots and had four rebounds in 20 minutes of work. Her career-high of 21 points came last month vs. Missouri Western. Next, graduate post Kia Wilson (St. George, Kan.) carried UNK early and tallied 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting. She added seven rebounds and was a point shy of her career-high effort. Finally, freshman reserve Alex Flattery (Sioux City, Ia.) provided season-bests in both points (12) and rebounds (eight).
"Jordan and Alex were really good at getting aggressive," said Johnson. "Kia played great again and got the baby hook that's been going in for her. When that's going, it's hard to guard her."
UNK hosts MIAA newcomer Arkansas-Ft. Smith on Thursday night. The Lions (13-7, 7-4) have dropped their last two games,103-96 in double OT to Missouri Southern and 92-87 in OT to No. 6 Pittsburg State. Both contests came at home.