Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team had three players score in double figures to roll past Chadron State, 68-52, Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK finishes the regular season at 13-13 (12-10 RMAC) and will be the seventh seed in next week's RMAC Tournament. The Eagles, mean while, end the year at 6-20 (4-18 RMAC).

The Lopers will play at 3rd-ranked Fort Lewis Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Central. The Skyhawks (25-2), defending national runners up, were stunned at Mesa State tonight, 57-51. That allowed 12th-ranked Metro State to win the RMAC regular season title and earn the No. 1 seed in the eight-team tournament.

Earlier this year in Kearney, Fort Lewis ran past the Lopers, 99-76. They are currently riding a 45-game home court win streak.

The complete bracket is available HERE.

In beating Chadron for the second time this year, UNK warmed up after a cold start. Both teams struggled early on, combining for 30 points by the 5:16 mark of the first half. The Lopers led at the half 26-24 despite shooting just 34 percent (11 of 32) from the floor. Chadron was even colder, coming in at 25.8 percent (8 of 31).

After two Lexi Smidt three throws gave Chadron a 29-28 lead about three minutes into the second half, UNK went on a 13-5 run to finally get going. The spurt featured five straight points from freshman point guard Sarah Hix (Broomfield, Colo.) and five straight points from freshman wing Shelby Zimmerman (Beatrice).

Ahead 41-37, the Lopers lead just grew, getting as big as 20 points. Chadron, which didn't have a player averaging double figures on the season, continued to struggle on the offensive end as they ended the night 15 of 57 (26.3 pct.) from the field.

UNK ended up at 40 percent (24 of 60) from the field and also scored 21 points off 18 CSC turnovers.

Junior guard Debi Johnson (Elsie) scored a team-high 15 points and tied junior Vanessa Leeper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) for the team lead in rebounds at nine. Leeper, UNK's leading scorer on the year, was checked hard by the Eagles but still ended up with 11 points.

Continuing to play well in relief of an injured Megan Backer, Zimmerman scored all 14 of her points in the second half. She also grabbed six boards and had two steals in 22 minutes. In her last three games played, the Tri-County High graduate is averaging 13.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.

Finally, Hix had her best game as a collegian, having a season-high nine points, four steals and two assists.

Smidt (17 points) and Kelsey Scott (nine rebounds, seven points) led the Eagles.