Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Seniors Shelby Zimmerman and Sarah Hix combined for 40 points as the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team led from start to finish in an 83-74 win over Colorado-Colorado Springs Friday night in Denver.
 
The game is a part of the Metro State Classic. UNK improves to 3-1 while the Mountain Lions, the preseason favorite in the RMAC, drops to 1-2.
 
Zimmerman (Beatrice) set two new career highs with 23 points and 14 rebounds, her second straight double double. Before last weekend, her only other double doubles came in back-to-back games during her freshman season.
 
The 5-11 forward went 8 of 15 from the field and 6 of 8 at the line. As team, UNK made just 59% (16 of 27) of its free throws but overcame that by having a plus seven rebounding margin, 47-40 and a plus four turnover margin, 20-16.
 
Hix (Broomfield, Colo.), returning home, sunk 7 of 10 shots, including a 2 of 4 effort from the three-point line, to score 17. She also was one of five Lopers to have two or more steals.
 
Also, junior post Amarah Williams (St. Louis) had all eight of her points in the second half with reserve post Chantal Thomas (Australia) scoring seven in 11 minutes.
 
UNK pounced on UCCS, scoring the first six points of the contest. The Loper lead got as big as 34-21 before the Lions whittled it down to seven midway through the second half.
 
Springs then came all the way back, tying the game at 60 on jumper by Taylor Garcia with 7:53 left. Zimmerman responded with a layup, starting an 8-1 UNK run.
 
In the final 4:25, the Lopers sunk seven free throws and got a big three by sophomore reserve guard Sydney Seberger.  
 
RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Abby Kirchoff had 28 points and nine rebounds for the Mountain Lions.

UNK takes on host Metro State tomorrow night. The Roadrunners droped its season opener to 24th-ranked Minnesota State, 75-63, on Friday.

Mankati's head coach is a former Loper player, Emilee (Gusso) Thiesse.