Box Score Kearney, Neb.- The Nebraksa-Kearney women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack, good defense and a plus 25 rebounding margin to whip Western New Mexico, 72-35, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (3-13, 3-7 RMAC) stop a three-game skid and send the Mustangs (0-13, 0-10 RMAC) to a 24th consecutive loss.

UNK started the night by making back-to-back threes to open up a 6-0 lead. However, the two teams combined for just 13 points over the next 10 minutes.

Kearney eventually got back on track and used a 13-0 run to lead 21-7 with 6:55 left in the half. Eleven of the points during this stretch came from seniors Lea Ann Jameson (Minden), Debi Johnson (Elsie) and Vanessa Leeper Jones (Colo. Springs, Colo.).

The Loper lead just grew from there, getting as big as 39 points by the second half.  

Western finished the night 13 of 63 from the field (20.6%) and was out rebounded 55-30. The 35 points is the fewest allowed by UNK since the Lopers held Ft. Hays State to 35 points in 2002.

Individually, Johnson tallied 11 of her game-high 15 points in the first half. The only player to reach double digits, she played just 20 minutes. 

Next, six different Lopers scored six points a piece, including freshman post Danielle Kersten (Springtown, Texas). Part of a bench that tallied 32 points, she also grabbed a 10 rebounds.

Leeper Jones had 10 rebounds, and tallied seven points, with junior guard Ivy Jones (Vallejo, Calif.) having a team-high six assists.

UNK hosts New Mexico Highlands tomorrow night.