JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln women's basketball team had the lead at halftime, but Washburn rallied in the second half to pull out a 67-55 win on Thursday night (Feb. 10).

Washburn (11-11, 9-7 MIAA) used an 8-0 run to take a 25-17 lead with 3:05 to play, and Kelsey Mitchell answered for Lincoln (5-18, 1-16 MIAA) with a quick jumper. Imani Jones cut the deficit in half with a layup, and Niyah Jackson made a pair of free throws to get LU within two. In the closing seconds of the half, Jones pulled down a rebound and swung the ball to Jackson, who found Hya Haywood wide open in the corner for a three-pointer that gave Lincoln a 26-25 advantage at the break. Haywood led LU on the evening with 15 points and also tallied a pair of steals and an assist.

The Ichabods came out strong in the third quarter, shooting .443 from the field to out-score the Blue Tigers by 11. The teams played each other fairly evenly in the final period, but the Blue Tigers could get no closer than within nine as WU shot .545 from the floor compared to .429 shooting for LU. Lincoln received 29 points from its bench and forced WU into 12 turnovers, but Washburn held a commanding 53-33 lead in rebounding.

Mitchell ended the day with 11 points, four boards and two steals, and Kylie Bernskoetter scored 10 points while grabbing four rebounds. Ayreona Carter made a free throw and blocked three shots while pulling down six rebounds, and Jones led LU with eight boards while chipping in five points and recording a block. Ashtin Ingram also had a block as well as a steal and an assist.

Jackson finished the evening with four points, three assists and three rebounds, and AJ Bradley came off the bench to provide four points. Haylie Holloway had a rebound and Mercy Gonzalez rounded out the Blue Tigers with five points, two boards and three blocks.

Lincoln will be on the road on Saturday (Feb. 12), traveling to Emporia, Kan. to take on Emporia State in a 1:30 p.m. CST contest.