Kearney, Neb. – University of Nebraska Kearney Women's basketball team would erase a six point halftime lead by a winless Western New Mexico  team to win, 63-57, Friday night in Silver City, N.M.

Nebraska Kearney improves to 7-7, 6-4 in the RMAC, while Western New Mexico falls to 0-15, 0-11 in the RMAC. With tonight's win Nebraska Kearney ends a three game losing streak to Western New Mexico; the all-time series is tied at 3-3.

The Lopers would grab their first lead of the game on jumper by senior forward Megan Becker (Beaver City) eleven seconds into the game, after the Becker basket the Mustangs would rattle off the next eight points to lead 8-2 with 18:23 left in the first half.

The Lopers would cut into the Mustangs lead with a three point basket by junior guard Kim Rickels (Iowa City, IA) and getting two points via the free throw line from junior guard Debi Johnson (Elsie) and a jumper by fellow junior guard Lea Ann Jameson (Minden) to trail by one with 14:23 left till halftime.

Nebraska Kearney would grab a quick one point lead when freshman point guard Nicole Arp (Kearney) hit both her free throws with 14:03 left till halftime. WNMU would go on another 8-0 scoring thanks to a layup by Lauren Wells and back to back three pointers by Morgan Wohltman, to give WNMU 18-11 lead with 12:38 left till halftime.  

UNK answered WNMU scoring run with 6-0 scoring run of their own, during the scoring run, UNK got points from Jameson and junior forward Vanessa Leeper (Colorado Springs, CO) to be down one with 10:40 left in the first half.

After a made jumper by Johnson to give UNK a 25-23 lead with 5:41 left till halftime, WNMU closed the first half on 9-1 scoring run getting four of the nine points from Jaleesa Russell to lead 32-26 at the half.

Just like in the first half the Lopers would score the first six points of the half, including four points by Becker to start the half. Over the next three minutes each team would trades baskets to either be tied or have a two point lead.

The Lopers would break a 36 all tie with a layup by Johnson to give the Lopers a two point lead, which would be extended to four points on a jumper by Becker, then would be pushed back to four points on a layup by Leeper with 12:00 minutes left in the game.

From the twelve minute mark to the five minute mark there was five ties and two lead changes. After the last tie with five minutes left, the Lopers would close the game on an 11-5 scoring run thanks points by Becker, Johnson, and Rickels.

The Lopers were led in scoring by Leeper, who got her third double-double of the season, with 18 points by going 2-2 from the line and 12 rebounds, Becker followed with 16 points on 6-9 shooting and 10 boards, for Becker that is her fourth double-double of the year, finally Johnson added 13 points by going 5-6 from the free throw line.

Western New Mexico was led in scoring by Wohltman with 18 points, followed by Amanda Tucker with 12 points and four assist, and Kristina Barr finished the game with 10 points on 5-9 shooting.

WNMU would attempt 15 more shots than UNK, 65-50, and 24-20 edge in points in the paint. However UNK would win the rebounding war by ten, 44-34, with a plus 13 advantage on the defensive boards. UNK scored more points off turnovers (16-13), second chance points (17-9), and fast break points (10-2).

Nebraska Kearney ends a three game road swing at New Mexico Highlands Saturday Night.