TOPEKA, Kan. - The No. 1 Washburn Lady Blues fell for the first time in Lee Arena in 40 regular season games and had their MIAA record 26-game winning streak snapped as No. 24 Missouri Western knocked off the Lady Blues 76-68. Washburn will be back in action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Benedictine in Lee Arena.
The lead changed hands 17 times in the game and 10 times in the second half, the Lady Blues (5-1, 0-1 MIAA) rallied from a 13 point deficit in the first half at 31-18 to take a 58-57 lead with 9:05 left in the second half on a jumper by Brooke Ubelaker in the paint. But the Griffons (7-0, 1-0 MIAA) pushed the lead back to four at 66-62 on on of Jill Johnson's three 3-pointers on the night. Washburn's Corkey Stiger cut the lead two two on a jumper before Inga Buzoke scored in the paint returning the lead to four at 68-64. Stiger hit another jumper cutting the lead to two, but the Lady Blues would not get any closer as Western hit six straight free throws to end the game pushing the final margin to eight points.
Johnson scored a game-high 27 points hitting 10 of 19 from the field, with 18 coming in the first half.
The Lady Blues were led by Amanda Homes, who recorded her third straight double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Stiger chalked up 14 and Ubelaker scored 13.
Washburn outrebounded the Griffons 42 to 28, but committed a season-high 20 turnovers leading to 16 points for the Griffons.