Topeka, Kan. – The comeback fell just short as Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team could not overcome a 20 point first half deficit to Washburn Thursday night inside Lee Arena.
 
Senior Deb Holcomb led all scorers with 17 points, junior Jasmine Green set a new career high with 13 points, and sophomore Desirea Buerge added 12 points for Missouri Southern (10-8, 5-4 MIAA). Washburn (12-5, 5-3 MIAA) was led by Alyxis Bowens with 16, as five Ichabods scored in double figures on the night.
 
Washburn got out to the early 5-2 lead before a driving layup from sophomore Chelsey Henry cut the lead to one and a three from junior Jenson Maydew gave Southern their first lead at 7-5. The first quarter went back and forth until the Ichabods broke the third tie with a jumper from Jharian Bowen and Washburn closed the quarter on a 10-3 run. The Lions' lone score was a three from Buerge at the 3:01 mark.
 
The Ichabods opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run to take an 18-point lead, 32-14, and led by 20 at the 3:21 mark, 38-18. Southern then put together a 10-0 run to close the quarter with Holcomb scoring five and Buerge three and junior Julianna Wadsworth closed the half with a layup in the paint.
 
Washburn came out of the locker room and expanded their lead to 13 on a three from Reagan Phelan. After trading buckets, Southern went on a quick 4-0 run and then another 6-0 run to cut the Ichabods lead down to seven at 47-40 with 3:13 to play in the quarter. Washburn closed out the quarter with a 4-3 advantage for a 51-43 lead headed into the quarter break.
 
Maydew hit a jumper to open the fourth quarter that made it 51-45 as the Lions continued to chip away at the Ichabod lead. Washburn's Alyxis Bowens hit a layup at the 7:30 mark to push the lead back to nine, 56-47, but the Lions answered with a 9-1 run that saw a three from Buerge, another one from Henry, and an old fashioned three-point play from Green to make it a 57-56 lead with 5:25 to play. Erika Lane answered for the Ichabods with a three and Green made it a two-point margin with a driving layup at the 4:12 mark. A layup from WU's Erin Dohnalek that just barely beat the shot clock made it 62-58 and a press breaker layup from Bowens gave the Ichabods a 64-58 lead with just under 90 seconds to play. A jumper from Henry with 1:06 to play cut the lead back down to four, 64-60, before the Lions had to foul and Washburn hit their free throws down the line to secure the 70-62 win.
 
Southern 45.3 percent, 24-for-53, from the field while the Ichabods finished 24-for-52, 46.2 percent. WU also out-rebounded the Lions 40-21 while Southern held the advantage in steals, 10-5, and committed fewer turnovers 16-12. Both teams scored 32 points in the paint, while the Lions scored 19 points of Washburn's turnovers to 12 points for the Ichabods.
 
Southern will return to action on Sunday as they travel to Emporia, Kansas to take on the ninth ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets. Tipoff from William L. White Auditorium is slated for 3 p.m.