KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The quarterfinals of the MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium began with a close call for the top-seeded team in the women’s bracket.
Central Missouri, the MIAA regular-season champ and current No. 1 team in the region rankings, overcame a sluggish start offensively to escape with a 65-61 victory over Washburn.
The Jennies became the first team to reach the semifinals Saturday and will play the winner of the noon Friday quarterfinal battle between Fort Hays State and Pitt State.
That semifinal is set for noon Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.
WOMEN
Central Missouri 65, Washburn 61
The Ichabods (18-12) gave the No. 15 team in the latest NCAA DII poll everything it could handle in Thursday’s first game.
Washburn led 16-14 after the first quarter and 28-27 at halftime.
A big reason for that was the play of senior Alexis McAfee, who had 12 points and six rebounds at the break.
But Central Missouri (25-4) scored nine straight points, the run ending with 3:21 to play in the third quarter to build an eight-point advantage.
Washburn’s Reagan Phelan answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Ichabods within two.
The Jennies would take a 50-46 lead into the final period after Morgan Fleming hit a jumper right before the horn.
McAfee fouled out in the fourth quarter, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in her final game. That gave the Ichabods one less offensive threat, and Central Missouri took advantage.
The Jennies hit just enough free throws down the stretch to survive.
Fleming led UCM with 20 points and six rebounds, and Megan Skaggs – the conference player of the year – added 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Kim Crown also hit double figures with 10 points and went 6 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Phelan finished with 16 points for Washburn, and Hunter Bentley added 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Jennies struggled from long range, hitting only 1 of 20 attempts from beyond the arc. Washburn was 7 of 14 from deep.
Emporia State 80, NW Missouri State 52
A day after pulling off an upset, Northwest Missouri State didn’t stand a chance of another one against the No. 2-seeded Hornets.
Emporia State (23-6) looked every bit the role of a top seed in the tourney by rolling out to a 21-9 lead after the first quarter thanks to 10 points from MIAA Freshman of the Year Tre’Zure Jobe.
That comfort margin would prove to be all the Hornets needed to win their fourth straight game and ninth in the last 10 outings.
Northwest Missouri (12-18) was outscored every quarter by the Hornets and trailed 38-25 at halftime.
The duo of Mollie Mounsey and Jobe combined for 54 points, two more than the Bearcats had total.
Mounsey finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and three assists to lead the way, and Jobe added 24 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Emporia State also got double figures from Morgan Laudan (11).
Northwest Missouri State was paced by Paityn Rau, who had 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Hornets move on to Saturday’s 2:15 p.m. semifinal against either Nebraska-Kearney or Missouri Western. That quarterfinal contest is set for 2:15 p.m. Friday.
MEN
NW Missouri State 75, Lincoln 54
Just how solid are the Bearcats? Well, the recently announced defensive player of the year in the conference dominated Lincoln for 31 points – including 21 in the first half – in a 21-point victory.
Northwest Missouri State (29-1) broke open an eight-point game at the break with 42 points in the second half.
Ryan Hawkins played 37 minutes, tallied 31 points on 11 of 17 shooting, pulled down nine rebounds and had three assists.
He was one of three players to score in double figures for the Bearcats, the defending DII national champs. Trevor Hudgins, the conference’s player of the year, and Diego Bernard added 14 points each as Northwest Missouri State shot 58% from the field for the game – including 48% from 3-point range.
Marcus Cohen was the only Blue Tiger to hit double figures with 10 points.
The 21-point win matched Northwest Missouri State’s average margin of victory per game this season.
The Bearcats will play in Saturday’s 6 p.m. semifinal against either Missouri Western or Washburn. That quarterfinal game is set for 6 p.m. Friday.
Rogers State 71, Pitt State 69
The Gorillas nearly made a last-second shot to force overtime, but the ball rimmed out and the Hillcats escaped a close call as the No. 2 seed.
Pitt State kept the game close most of the way, trailing only 38-33 at halftime.
Marques Sumner led Rogers State (24-5) with 19 points, and Brewster Peacock added 11. Tavian Davis chipped in 10 as the Hillcats won their sixth in a row and 13th in the last 14 games while holding down the No. 15 ranking in the latest DII poll.
Pitt State (12-18) was led by Marcel Cherry with 15 points, and A.J. Walker and Jah-Kobe Womack each had 11.
Rogers State will play either Missouri Southern or Northeastern State in the semifinals at 8:15 p.m. Saturday.
Washburn’s Hayley Thompson shoots around the Central Missouri defense of Morgan VanHyfte (33) and Morgan Fleming (22) during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Alexis McAfee eyes a 3-pointer against Central Missouri during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Shelbe Piggie uses a screen to get around Central Missouri’s Morgan Fleming during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Hunter Bentley tries to get a shot off around Central Missouri’s Nija Collier during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Alexis McAfee drives between Central Missouri’s Morgan Fleming, left, and Morgan Skaggs (20) during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Central Missouri’s Megan Skaggs is whistled for a foul against Washburn’s Mia Castaneda during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Alexis McAfee dives to save a ball in front of Central Missouri’s Nija Collier (24) and Morgan VanHyfte (33) during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Alexis McAfee prepares to put a spin move on Central Missouri’s Ellisha Davis during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Reagan Phelan looks back down the court after hitting a 3-pointer against Central Missouri during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Shelbe Piggie tries to get a shot off around the defense of Central Missouri’s Megan Skaggs during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Washburn’s Reagan Phelan drives to the hoop against Central Missouri’s Gigi McAtee during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
Emporia State’s Morgan Laudan prepares to pass to teammate Mollie Mounsey while playing against Northwest Missouri State during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Mollie Mounsey drives to the basket against Northwest Missouri State’s Paityn Rau during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Tre’Zure Jobe looks to drive against the Northwest Missouri State defense during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Millie Mounsey (22) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against Northwest Missouri State during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Karsen Schultz puts up a running shot in front of Northwest Missouri State’s Mallory McConkey during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Daley Handy muscles a shot up over Northwest Missouri State’s Paityn Rau during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Tre’Zure Jobe calls out a play against Northwest Missouri State during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Mollie Mounsey stretches to save a ball in front of teammate Kali Martin while playing against Northwest Missouri State during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Northwest Missouri State’s Mia Stillman tries to pass around the defense of Emporia State’s Tre’Zure Jobe during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Emporia State’s Fredricka Sheats drives to the hoop against Northwest Missouri State’s Kylie Coleman during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
Northwest Missouri State’s Trevor Hudgins dribbles up the floor against Lincoln during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Northwest Missouri State’s Trevor Hudgins drives against Lincoln’s Marcus Cohen during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Northwest Missouri State’s Ryan Hawkins goes up for a shot over Lincoln’s L’Kielynn Taylor during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Northwest Missouri State’s Ryan Hawkins jumps over Lincoln’s L’Kielynn Taylor to get off a shot during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Lincoln’s L’Kielynn Taylor goes hard to the basket against Northwest Missouri State defenders Diego Bernard, left, and Ryan Hawkins during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Northwest Missouri State’s Trevor Hudgins glides to the basket against Lincoln during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Northwest Missouri State’s Trevor Hudgins drives the lane to get to the hoop ahead of Lincoln’s Jonell Burton during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Northwest Missouri State’s Diego Bernard breaks down Lincoln’s Marcus Cohen during Thursday’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
Rogers State’s Marques Sumner drives in for a layup against Pitt State during Thursday night’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Pitt State’s A.J. Walker is surrounded by Rogers State defenders Gabriel Ferreira, left, and Jett Sternberger during Thursday night’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Rogers State’s Marques Sumner is fouled by a Pitt State player during Thursday night’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Rogers State’s Christopher Miller goes to the hoop against Pitt State’s Antonio Givens II during Thursday night’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Rogers State’s Darraja Parnell steals the ball from Pitt State’s Marcel Cherry during Thursday night’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 
Rogers State’s Jett Sternberger has his layup attempt blocked by Pitt State’s Dejon Waters Jr. during Thursday night’s MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.