Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team made a season-high nine three pointers and jumped out to a big early lead to roll past Colorado School of Mines, 81-64, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

By beating the Oreddigers (2-8, 1-3 RMAC) for a third straight time, the Lopers (1-9, 1-4 RMAC) finally enter the win column in 2011-12.

Mines got two buckets from leading scorer Angie Charchallis to lead 5-3 about two minutes into the game. By the time the 'Diggers scored again, a full eight minutes later, they were down 20-6. It even got worse as UNK eventually led 30-6.

Besides shutting Mines down, UNK got four made three pointers from senior guard Kim Rickels (Iowa City, Ia.) to open up this large lead.

The 'Diggers tried to climb back into the game, getting a half court, banked in three from reserve Tayler Helbig to trail by a 35-23 score at the break.

However, UNK never led its lead slip below double digits as they finished 9 of 19 from downtown (47%) and 24 of 35 at the line. The Lopers also out rebounded a much taller Mines team, 47-31, and had a plus five turnover margin.

Individually, Rickels scored a career-high 21 points by making 6 of 8 threes. Senior guard Debi Johnson (Elsie), who holds the Loper record for threes in a game with nine, had a team-high 26 points by tallying eight field goals and eight free throws.

Also, senior Vanessa Leeper Jones (Colo. Springs, Colo.) recorded a double double (12 rebounds & 11 points) while handing out a team-high six assists.

Mines saw starting guard Stephanie Fogle go for 19 points on 4 of 5 three point shooting.

Colorado Christian visits Sunday.