Lady Blues use second half run in big victory

TOPEKA - The No. 13 Washburn Lady Blues topped Southwest Baptist 82-59 in Lee Arena Wednesday night. The Lady Blues improved to 19-3 and 10-3 in the MIAA and pulled within one game of Emporia State and Northwest Missouri State for the MIAA lead.

The Lady Blues took a 19-5 lead with 14:52 to play in the first half on back-to-back baskets by Montoya Whitfield. SBU rallied to tie the score at 29, before Washburn used a 3-pointer by Erin Menard and jumper with two seconds left by Carla Sintra to take a 34-29 lead at the break.

Southwest Bapist pulled within three on Amber Wheeler's layup seconds into the second half but couldn't get any closer the rest of the way. Washburn later used a 12-0 run to make it 65-42 with 8:22 left. The run was capped by two 3-pointers from Menard.

Sintra had a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds to lead Washburn, while Menard finished with 15 points on 5-for-5 shooting beyond the arch. Menard has 52 3-pointers for the season, which ties Kristy Chapman's single season record from 2003-04. Wheeler had 21 points to lead SBU, while Alicia Mercer added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Washburn, which outrebounded SBU 47-30, is back in action 1:30 p.m. at Truman State Saturday.