Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Former Nebraska volleyball player Shelby Winkelmann scored a game-high 23 points and Central Missouri got off to a hot start on the perimeter to beat Nebraska Kearney, 68-49, Saturday evening at the Health & Sports Center.
 
A 2014 NCAA Tournament team, UCM improves to 9-3 (3-1) while the Lopers fall to 6-7 (1-4).
 
The Jennies came in shooting 28% from the three point line but sunk 6 of 15 (40%) from downtown to build a 35-19 halftime advantage. Inside the triple line, UCM was 5 of 14 (36%) over the first 20 minutes.
 
Forcing 20 turnovers and recording 12 second chance points thanks to 11 offensive caroms, UCM held a double digit advantage the entire second half.
 
"We got off to a slow start and dug ourselves a hole," said UNK head coach Kevin Chaney. "We also need to be the more aggressive team and get those loose balls and rebounds. Tonight, they were that team, especially in the first half."
 
A 5-9 junior guard, Winkelmann went 10 of 17 from the field (1 of 4 threes) to reach her point total. She also had four assists and four rebounds.
 
Off the bench, junior guard Tayler Weiks made 4 of 8 threes to tally 17 with 6-3 senior post Revonnia Howard getting close to a double double (eight points & 10 rebounds).
 
UNK actually out shot UCM, 42.9% to 40.3%, but the Jennies had 20 more attempts, 62-42. Both teams made 10 free throws with UCM making five more threes, 8-3, and grabbing six more boards, 37-31.
 
For the Lopers, senior post Amarah Williams (18) and junior guard Laramey Lewis (23) combined for 41 points on 16 of 25 shooting (64%). Both players also grabbed five rebounds.
 
Next, South Dakota sophomore Kelsey Fitzgerald had nine defensive rebounds with Nevada sophomore Tori Payne coming off the bench to have four points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.
 
UNK hosts Missouri Western State Monday night. The Griffons fell to 8th-ranked Washburn, 78-71, to be at 6-4 (1-3) for the season.