Kearney, Neb. – The University of Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team lost its' lone exhibition game to No. 23 Nebraska, 97-55, Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.

In the first game of the Kevin Chaney era, Nebraska raced out to a 10-2 lead by getting four points from sophomore guard Lindsey Moore (15 points, six assists). The Lopers scored its first basket of the year when sophomore post Kelsey Lane (Omaha Burke) put the ball in the bucket at the 17:23 mark.

After the first media timeout, UNK went on 7-0 run to get within one point at 14:46 mark. Tallying baskets during this stretch were senior post Megan Becker (Southern Valley H.S.), sophomore post Bailey Halbur (Manning, Ia.) and freshman guard Nicole Arp (Kearney).

Nebraska came back and closed out the first half on an 11-5 run to lead 55-27 at halftime. In the first 20 minutes of action, the 'Huskers shot 66 percent (23-35) from the field while UNK was at 35 percent (10-29) from the floor.

In the second half, Nebraska pushed its lead to 30 points by the 16:25 mark. The Lopers would get no closer than 27 points the rest of the way.

The Lopers finished the game by shooting 32 percent (22-68) from the field while a much taller UNL squad shot over 50 percent (39-68) from the field and also forced 26 UNK turnovers.

UNK almost won the battle on the glass as Nebraska had just a 45-40 advantage. Kearney did have five more offensive boards,16-11, then UNL.  

The Cornhuskers had all five starters score at least 10 points with true freshman Jordan Hooper having a team-high 20 by going 8-10 from the floor and also pulling down six rebounds.

Kearney was led in points by junior forward Vanessa Leeper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) with 14, followed by another junior in guard Tessa Kreutzer (Loomis) with 12 points. Becker was the team's leading rebounder (nine) while Leeper grabbed eight.

  UNK opens the season on the road this Friday night at Missouri S & T (Rolla, Mo).