Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Laura Patrick scored 28 points and hit a couple of big shots down the stretch to help 3rd-ranked Emporia State hold off Nebraska-Kearney, 84-75, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
 
Emporia (19-2, 10-2) rebounds from a loss while the Lopers fall to 7-12 (3-9).
 
Getting career-high point totals from junior post Amarah Williams (23) and sophomore guard Laramey Lewis (24), UNK almost came back from a 43-30 halftime hole.  

However, Patrick followed a three by Lewis with her own triple, giving the Hornets a 72-68 lead with 3:26 to play. She then hit another trey with 1:19 left to make it an eight point game.
 
Scoring 14 in each half, Patrick finished 10 of 17 (3 of 7 3's) from the field and 5 of 5 at the line. She is Emporia's leading scorer on the season (14.4).
 
The Hornets came in with a plus 13 rebounding margin but the smaller Lopers grabbed six more caroms today, 41-35. That included 18 on the offensive end, four by both Williams and senior wing Shelby Zimmerman (Beatrice).
 
UNK had 17 second chance points but shot just 38.6% (27 of 70). Emporia had 13 fewer field goal attempts and shot a solid 49%, including a 9 of 15 effort from downtown.
 
To reach her point total, Lewis (Trenton) hit her first seven shots and finished 8 of 11 (3 of 4 3's) from the field and 5 of 5 at the line. She also had seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Williams (St. Louis) recorded her second straight double double by grabbing 10 boards. Going 10 of 21 from the floor, she also blocked two shots. Finally, senior point Nicole Arp had a career-best 11 assists, along with six boards, three steals and two points.
 
Besides Patrick, eight other Hornets scored, including three with nine a piece. A deep ESU bench scored 28 points, led by senior guard Rheanna Egli (seven points & seven assists).
 
UNK hosts Fort Hays State Wednesday night. The Tigers (15-4, 8-4) are now 11-0 at home after beating Washburn, 69-62, today.