Kearney, Neb. – The Colorado-Colorado Springs women's basketball team shot 53 percent from the field, and got 29 points from junior guard Jessica Brown, to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 82-73, Saturday night in Colorado.

The Lopers (12-13, 11-10 RMAC) have dropped three in a row and five of six. Springs improves to 8-16 (7-13 RMAC) and beats UNK at home for a second straight season.

In the RMAC standings, Kearney is currently seventh, just behind Colorado State-Pueblo (12-8) and ahead of Western State (9-11).

UNK was short handed last night as freshman Shelby Zimmerman (Beatrice) couldn't play due to illness. She had recorded back-to-back double doubles and was one of the players replacing the production of senior post Megan Becker, who is out with a knee injury.

A tight game throughout, UNK led 61-56 after junior wing Vanessa Leeper (Colorado Springs) made a layup with 8:44 to play. However, the Mountain Lions went on a 19-7 run over a six minute span to open up a seven-point lead.

Reserve guard Lauren Wolfinger scored seven of her 12 points during this key run.

Springs finished 27 of 51 (52.9 pct.) from the field and also went 26 of 35 at the line. This is the fifth time this season a UNK opponent has shot 30 or more free throws.

UNK came in at 41.1 percent (23 of 56) from the field and was 22 of 25 at the line. Both teams grabbed 33 rebounds and each team had less than 15 turnovers.

Brown, a 5-6 transfer from Eastern Wyoming J.C., went 10 of 16 from the floor and 9 of 14 at the line to reach her point total. She also had seven rebounds (five offensive) and four assists.

Also for UCCS, junior guard Danielle Brown -- sister of Jessica -- had 14 points, nine rebounds and five steals. B

Leeper led Kearney with 22 points thanks to an 11 of 12 effort from the charity stripe. She also had 12 rebounds, making this her seventh double double of 2011.

Next, Elsie junior Debi Johnson scored 19 and Minden junior Lea Ann Jameson came off the bench to have 13 points and seven rebounds.

Finally, Johnson is the 22nd Loper to score 1,000 points (now 1,004) in a career.

The Lopers close out the regular season at home next Saturday vs. Chadron State.