Box Score Kearney, Neb.  – Missouri Western State took advantage of 30 turnovers and used a 10-0 second half run to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 71-50, Wednesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
The Griffons, coming off a seven win season, are already 10-3 (3-2) while the Lopers slip to 4-8 (1-4). Playing UNK for the first time in 11 years, Western now holds an 18-13 all-time series lead.
 
The first half was a track meet as both teams raced up and down the court. Despite committing 15 turnovers, UNK was down just 33-26 at the break as they had a plus nine rebounding margin and were 11 of 29 (37.9%) from the field.
 
Western quickly jumped out to a 12-point cushion early in the second half but a layup from junior point guard Nicole Arp (Kearney) made it a 40-34 score with 15:24 to play.
 
That's when the Griffons shut the door, scoring the game's next 10 points. The run featured five Loper turnovers, four directly leading to Western buckets.
 
For the game, the Griffons scored 23 points off UNK's miscues and recorded 19 steals.  Western also made seven three pointers with the Lopers going 0 of 9 from down town.
 
A balanced MWSU attack featured 11 different players in the scoring column. Reserve guard JaQuitta Dever led the way with 14 on 5 of 8 shooting. She also had four steals, three rebounds and two assists.
 
UNK, out rebounding the Griffons 45-32, got a super game from sophomore post Melissa Norman (Elk Grove, Calif.).  Having her fourth double double of the season, she grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds, tied in career-high in blocks with five and scored a team-best 13.
 
Nationally-ranked Washburn visits Saturday afternoon.