Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Allyssa Nikkel and junior forward Jayna Smith combined to score nine points in overtime to help Washburn complete a comeback against Nebraska Kearney, 68-61, Thursday night in Topeka, Kan.
 
The Ichabods, ranked nationally for much of the season, improve to 14-5 (6-4) while UNK drops to 11-9 (5-6).
 
The Lopers were looking to win in Lee Arena for a second straight year and led for the first 30 minutes. However, junior guard Laramey Lewis (Trenton) needed to hit a three pointer with six seconds left in regulation to tie things up at 58 and force overtime.
 
About 30 seconds earlier, UNK seemingly hit a shot to take a one-point lead but a travelling call wiped out the bucket. Washburn's Taylor Ignoto made two free throws before Lewis hit the big trey from the top of the key.
 
In overtime, Washburn got some unlikely heroics from Nikkel and Smith. Nikkel, averaging 4.2 points per game, hit a jumper and went 3 for 4 at the line while Smith, coming in at 5.7 points per game, sunk two free throws and made the go-ahead bucket 12 seconds in.
 
On the night, both scored eight points and were a combined 4 for 14 from the field but 8 of 11 at the line. They also combined for 13 rebounds and five assists.
 
UNK was just 3 of 8 from the field (37.5%) in overtime and trailed by at least four points over the final 3:55. Having a 10-point second half lead, the Lopers finished 5 of 10 at the line and had 21 turnovers that led to 17 Washburn points. 
 
"We were right there with them but then we started turning the ball over," said UNK head coach Kevin Chaney. "You can't have 21 turnovers in close game like this as it gives them more opportunities. They also hurt us on the offensive glass."

Washburn had 18 o-boards and took 11 more shots. The 'Bods were a bit perimeter happy, going 4 of 25 from behind the arc.
 
Senior post Amarah Williams (St. Louis, Mo.) haunted Washburn again, finishing with a game-high 25 points on 12 of 16 shooting. Going 1 for 4 at the line, she also had 11 rebounds (five offensive), making this her ninth double double of the winter.
 
In three career games against the Ichabods, Williams has scored 65 points and pulled down 29 rebounds.
 
Next, sophomore point guard Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. Having eight points after the break, this was her first career double double.
 
Finally, Lewis had 14 points and four assists in 42 minutes. She'll need two threes on Sunday to become the seventh Loper with 100 in a career.
 
Washburn used seven players off the bench and that group tallied 28 points, including 12 from senior post Honor Duvall. Ignoto (10) and fellow senior guard Casyn Buchman (14) were held to a 7 of 25 effort from the field but still managed to score 24 points to pace the WU starting five. 
 
UNK is at No. 2 Emporia State Sunday afternoon. The Hornets (16-2, 9-2) lost to No. 6 Fort Hays State, 65-55, Wednesday night at home.