Kearney, Neb. – Colorado State University-Pueblo got a game-high 23 points from guard Rachel Espinoza in a 65-57 victory against Nebraska-Kearney Friday night in Pueblo, Colo.

The Lopers drop to 12-12 and 11-9 in conference play while the ThunderWolves improve to 14-9 and 11-8 in the RMAC. Pueblo won the earlier meeting, 71-68, between the two teams but still trails in the all-time series, 15-8.

UNK started the game on 6-2 run that covered the first two minutes of the game. True freshman forward Shelby Zimmerman (Beatrice) tallied four of the points while junior guard Kim Rickels (Iowa City, Ia.) contributed the other two.

CSUP countered by scoring 17 of the next 20 points to lead 19-9 with 13:50 left in the half. Post Amanda Bartlett scored six of the points, thanks to two made two threes, and was followed by three others with at least three points.

Pueblo still held a double digit lead, 28-18, at the six minute mark. However, a bucket by sophomore post Bailey Halbur (Manning, Ia.) as the first half buzzer sounded cut the T-Wolves down to five, 30-25.

Each team traded baskets to open the second 20 minutes. UNK made it just a single point game, 38-37, after a layup by junior point guard Debi Johnson (Elsie) with 15:00 minutes left.

UNK then took the lead back, for the first time since that 6-2 lead, on a layup by junior wing Vanessa Leeper (Colorado Springs) with 13:40 left in the game.

Neither team held a lead bigger than five points over the next 12 minutes. The ThunderWolves briefly got the lead back, 46-44, at the halfway point of the half on a jumper by Espinoza.

That lead was short lived, however, as Leeper tied things at 46. That was a the start of an 11-4 run that put UNK up 55-50 with just over five to play.

Pueblo controlled things after that, finishing the game on a 15-2 run. Espinoza scored eight straight points at one point, sinking a three and making five of six free throws.

In the final five minutes, UNK had five turnovers and went just 1 of 4 from the field.

For the game, the Lopers out rebounded Pueblo 46-34, including a 22-12 mark on the offensive glass. However, Kearney made only 24 of 67 (35.8 pct.) of its shots. That included a 1 of 19 effort from the three point line.

Espinoza reached her point total by making 7 of 10 field goals and by making 7 of 8 free throws. She also
had six rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Making 3 of 5 threes, Bartlett chipped in with 13 points and two steals with starter Erica Hicks having 10 points, four boards and three blocks.

Kearney was led by Zimmerman, who recorded her second straight double-double (season-high 16 points, season-high 12 rebounds). Leeper added 12 points and six boards and Halbur scored a career-high 11 points, and had five rebounds, in 16 minutes off the bench.

Nebraska Kearney takes on Colorado-Colorado Springs in the last regular season road game later today.