TOPEKA, Kan. – After being up by nine points twice in the first half, Rogers State women's basketball (4-5, 0-4 MIAA) couldn't hang on in the second half as they fell 56-44 to Washburn (6-2, 1-1 MIAA) on Saturday.
 
Two Hillcats finished in double figures in the game. Destiny Jones led RSU with 11 points to go with a rebound and a steal. Breanna Fowler added 10 points with two rebounds and an assist. Kaya Goldsby put up seven points with five rebounds and five steals. Alyza Aikins contributed six points with five rebounds and two assists. Alayzha Knapp posted five points with a team-high eight rebounds along with two assists and two steals.
 
RSU started hot as they opened the game on a 7-2 run in the first five and a half minutes. The Ichabods battled back and cut the lead to one point at 7-6 after a mini 4-0 run, but Mariana Minotto made two free throws in the final 15 seconds of the quarter to push the lead back out to 9-6.
 
The Hillcats got two threes to open the second quarter and go up 15-6 with 7:04 left in the half. After WU cut the lead to five with back-to-back buckets, RSU responded with two of their own to push back out to 19-10. However, the Ichabods closed out the half on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 19-15 headed into the break.
 
After trading shots in the early moments of the third quarter, WU found some momentum and pulled off a 5-0 run made up of free throws to take their first lead of the game at 22-21 at the 6:23 mark. Things went back-and-forth over the next few minutes with two lead changes and a tie. Washburn came out on top and pushed the lead out to 34-26 thanks to a 12-2 run. They eventually carried a 37-29 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Ichabods built their lead out to its largest at 45-29 as they opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run. The Hillcats were able to cut the deficit down to 45-37, but that would be as close as they would get. Made free throws down the stretch by WU would put the game out of reach as they took the 56-44 decision.
 
RSU will return home on Wednesday, Dec. 13 as they face off against archrival Northeastern State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.