Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore forward Kelsey Sigl scored a layup with 16 seconds left to help Mesa State rally past the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team, 73-70, Friday night in Grand Junction, Colo.

This was a battle of two of the top teams in the Central Region. Mesa (13-7, 10-6 RMAC) came in ranked 10th in the region while the Lopers (11-9, 10-6 RMAC) were ninth. Earlier this year in Kearney, UNK beat the Mavericks, 79-68.

UNK hadn't lost in Grand Junction since the 1990-91 season and was poised to sneak out with a close win when reserve forward Lea Ann Jameson (Minden) converted a three point play with 32 seconds left. The bucket capped an 8-0 Loper spurt that lasted almost two minutes and made the score 70-69.

However, Sigl (6-0) made a layup 16 seconds later and was also fouled. While she missed the free throw, teammate Alania Brennan (5-6) rebounded the ball and then made one of the two subsequent free throws.

Jameson had a chance to be the hero as, after the ball went out of bounds, she took an inbounds pass and launched a three with five seconds to go. The shot misfired and that led to Brennan going one of two at the line again. A desperation three from junior Debi Johnson (Elsie) didn't fall at the buzzer.

UNK held a 42-28 lead at the break thanks to strong rebounding, 22-18, and four made threes, two coming from Johnson. But, Mesa opened the second half on a 19-4 to not only erase the large deficit but also grab a one point lead, 47-46.

The Lopers did bounce back, grabbing leads of seven and six points but Mesa responded with their own runs to lead 69-63 with 2:19 left on the clock. That's when UNK made its last push.

For the night, Mesa's big three of Sigl (23) and sisters Katrina (six) and Sharaya (15) Selsor combined for 44 points thanks to a 16 of 31 effort from the field. In the loss in Kearney, this sophomore trio made just 7 of 33 field goals. The group also combined for 12 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.

Mesa scored 46 second half points thanks to a 15 of 24 effort (62.5 pct) from the field, which included sinking four of five threes. The Mavericks also hit the glass hard, out rebounding UNK 18-12 in the final 20 minutes.

Working around some foul trouble, senior post Megan Becker (Beaver City) and junior forward Vanessa Leeper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) each posted double doubles with Johnson scoring all 13 of her points in the first half.

Leeper finished with team-highs in points (22) points and rebounds (11) with Becker supplying 12 points and 10 rebounds. Off the bench, Beatrice freshman wing Shelby Zimmerman grabbed four rebounds and also made three of four shots to tally six points.

UNK ended the game at 42.9 percent (27 of 63) shooting including a frigid 27.3 percent (6 of 22) from the three point line.

The Lopers head to Western State Saturday night.