Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore guard Christina Whitelaw turned in a triple double and the Colorado Christian women's basketball team shot 64 percent in the first half to get past Nebraska-Kearney, 83-67, Friday night in Lakewood, Colo.

The Cougars (10-10, 8-6 RMAC) have now won five in a row at home and six of seven. They also have come out on top in five of the last seven meetings with the Lopers (5-14, 5-9 RMAC).

Christian made 20 of 31 shots in the first half, including five three pointers, to get out to a 40-15 lead by the six minute mark.  UNK managed to trail by 18 at the break and then almost came all the way back, making it a 55-51 game after a bucket by senior Vanessa Leeper Jones (Colo. Springs, Colo.) five minutes into the second half.

This 36-15 Loper run featured four made triples and 5 of 5 free throw shooting.

However, CCU responded with a three from Southern Valley grad Jessica Murdoch, and layup from Kelsie Hart, to go back up by nine. UNK didn't get closer than seven points the rest of the night.

Among the top players in the Central Region, Whitelaw had eight turnovers, and tallied only nine points, in a loss to the Lopers in December. She made up for that performance in a big way by having 24 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals in 37 minutes.

Senior post Stephanie Allen (20 points) and junior guard Bre McBeth (13 points and five rebounds) also had solid efforts for Christian. Shooting 54% (33 of 61) for the game, CCU had a plus 11 rebounding margin, 37-26, and forced 23 Kearney turnovers.

The Lopers were paced by true freshman post Melissa Norman (Elk Grove, Calif.), who tallied a season-high 13 points thanks to her first made three pointer. She also pulled down five rebounds and had two blocks in 23 minutes.

Next, senior guard Debi Johnson (Elsie) went over 1,300 career points (now 1,311) as she had 12 on the strength of two made threes. Finally, six others tallied between six and eight points, including junior reserve post Nadia Williams (San Jose, Calif.).

UNK is at Colorado School of Mines Saturday night.