Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Shelby Zimmerman had a double double and Nebraska-Kearney made 30 free throws to hold off South Dakota Mines, 76-75, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UNK (7-10) is now 5-0 at home while the Hardrockers drop to 6-13.
 
It was fitting the game came down to three free throws as the two teams combined for 55 fouls and 83 free throws. After senior guard Nicole Arp (Kearney H.S.) went one of two at the line to make it 76-74 UNK with nine seconds left, Mines raced down the floor.
 
The 'Rockers found 6-0 sophomore post Devyn Asche open at the top of the key, about two feet outside the three point. She was fouled attempting a potential game winning shot and went to the line.
 
Finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds, Asche sunk the first and then had to wait as UNK called a timeout. She was long on her second and short on her third and final attempt with Trenton sophomore Laramey Lewis grabbing the key rebound.
 
For the game, Mines was just 23 of 40 (57.5%) at the line, including a 7 of 13 effort by Asche. Meanwhile, the Lopers sunk 70% (30 of 43) of their freebies.

The 30 makes are eight off the school mark and tie for the seventh most on the Loper all-time top 10.
 
Up 33-32 at the break, UNK held its biggest lead of the night with 36 seconds left, 74-68. However, Mines got threes from Alexis Long and Kenney Mackenzie to setup the last nine seconds.
 
Shooting 32.8% (21 of 64) from the field, the Lopers did have a plus four rebounding margin and committed only 10 turnovers.
 
Zimmerman (Beatrice) finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds as she was 11 of 16 at the line and 5 of 12 from the floor. This is her third double double of the year and the first since November.
 
Next, junior post Amarah Williams (St. Louis, Mo.), before fouling out, had 16 points in 17 minutes with Lewis at 14 points, five rebounds and two assists. Finally, Arp had eight assists, five points, four boards and two steals.
 
Besides Asche, 'Rocker reserve Megan Rohrer had 14 points and seven rebounds.
 
Washburn and 2nd-ranked Emporia State come to town next weekend.