Kearney, Neb. – Juniors Vanessa Leeper and Kim Rickels combined for 39 points and 26 rebounds, and senior Megan Becker reached the 1,000 point milestone, as the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team upset Colorado Christian, 83-74, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK (10-8, 9-5 RMAC) has now won five of its last six games with the Cougars (13-4, 12-2 RMAC) losing for just the second time in the last 14 contests.

Christian is currently ranked fourth in the Central Region and owns wins over No. 4 Fort Lewis and No. 6 Wayne State.

In a game in which both teams raced and up down the court, UNK led most of the way. However, Christian battled back from a 10 point deficit to grab a 62-61 lead with seven minutes to go after a layup by guard Jodie Krall.

The lead lasted only 24 seconds as freshman point guard Nicole Arp (Kearney H.S.) hit a three pointer. About three minutes later, UNK made its move with the score tied at 68.

Becker (Southern Valley H.S.) scored a fast break layup and, after CCU missed two free throws, Rickels (Iowa City, Ia.) converted a three point play. Becker then scored another bucket to cap the key 7-0 spurt.

The Cougars did make it a three point game, 75-72, at the 1:41 mark after a three from Brittany Long. However, Rickels scored the game's next four points to push the lead back to seven.

UNK shot a solid 48.3 percent (29 of 60) on the night and also sunk 20 of 29 free throws. On the other side of the court, Christian made just 40.5 percent of its field goals (29 of 72), including a 7 of 27 effort from beyond the arc.

Thanks to a 31-13 mark in the second half, the Lopers had a plus 17 rebounding margin, 50-33, for the game. Finally, UNK did have 25 turnovers, which turned into 21 CCU points.

Leeper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) scored 21 points by going 6 of 10 from the floor and by making 8 of 10 free throws. She also had 10 rebounds to make this her fifth double double of the season.

In her second year as a Loper after a season at Missouri Western State, Rickels had career-highs in points (18) and rebounds (13). Leading the team on the glass, she grabbed seven defensive rebounds and had six on the offensive end. Offensively, Rickels made 7 of 14 shots.

Not to be out done, Becker scored 21 points, thanks to 8 of 15, shooting, pulled down boards and handed out a team-high seven assists. Finally, she became the 21st UNK women's basketball player to reach 1,000 points (now 1,013) with a bucket late in the first half.

Five Cougars were in double figures, led by freshman guard Christina Whitelaw with 21. Making 9 of her first 10 shots, the Division II leader in steals (5.6 pg) also recorded seven rebounds, five assists and three steals before fouling out.

UNK hosts Colorado School of Mines tomorrow night.