Box Score

Topeka, Kan. - The Southwest Baptist University women's basketball clinched a spot in the MIAA Postseason Tournament with a big 69-65 victory at Washburn on Saturday evening. With the win, SBU improves to 15-11 (7-10 MIAA), guaranteeing a winning record for the second consecutive season.

Washburn jumped out of the gates by scoring the games first five points, as SBU trailed 5-0 early in the first quarter. After a pair of free throws by Aliyah Isaac got SBU on the board, Washburn would push their lead to 10-4 with 5:18 left in the opening quarter. With 4:46 remaining on the clock Alex Botkin connected on a three to pull SBU back within three, but the Ichabods responded with a 5-0 run as SBU trailed 19-11 with 2:25 left in the quarter. The Bearcats used a 6-0 run with scoring from three different players before heading into the second quarter trailing 23-20.

The two teams exchanged baskets to open up the second quarter, as SBU trailed 25-22 with 7:33 left in the half. WU pushed the lead back to five, but an 11-4 SBU run, capped off with a Megan Rosenbohm layup, gave the Bearcats their first lead of the game at 33-31 with 3:23 remaining in the half. WU and SBU exchanged buckets from the final minutes of the half before a put-back layup from Caylee Richardson beat the buzzer and sent the Bearcats into the lockerroom with a 38-36 lead.

With the Bearcats leading 43-40 with 8:10 left in the quarter, SBU used a 7-0 run to push their lead to double-digits. The Bearcats went 7 of 8 from the line during the run, as Skupa connected on four free throws, to give SBU the 10 point lead. A pair of Morgan Henderson free throws extended the SBU lead to a game high 13 at 55-42 before heading into the fourth quarter with a 57-48 lead.

In the final quarter WU cut the Bearcat lead to four at 59-55 with 7:22 remaining in the game, and continued to chip away at the SBU lead as the Bearcats lead 64-63 with 3:53 to go. After missed jumpers from both teams Rosenbohm connected on a pair of free throws to push the SBU lead back to three with 2:47 remaining. Washburn again cut the lead back to one at 66-65 with 57 seconds remaining before Richardson hit a jumper with 35 seconds left to give the Bearcats a 68-65 lead. A Bearcat steal and subsequent Washburn fouls sent the Bearcats back to the free throw line with 6 seconds remaining as Skupa would sink a free throw to send the Bearcats home with a 69-65 victory.

Megan Rosenbohm had a team high 15 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 3 steals, while Caylee Richardson went 6-7 from the field for 14 points and 7 rebounds. Morgan Henderson added 10 points and 7 rebounds while Mackenzie Skupa came off of the bench with 10 points in the Bearcat victory. As a team SBU shot 43.8% from the field, 36.4% from beyond the arc, and 90.5% from the line.

The Bearcats will return home on Thursday, February 23 when they host Fort Hays State. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. from the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar.