Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard
Laramey Becker scored 29 points and the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team made 29 free throws to hold off Southwest Baptist, 89-75, Thursday night in Bolivar, Mo.
This is the Lopers (5-4, 1-2) first win over the Bearcats (5-3, 1-2) since joining the MIAA in 2012.
Leading from start to finish, UNK scored the game's first eight points as they took advantage of three turnovers. In a frantically paced game, the teams combined for 50 fouls and 35 turnovers.
Becker (Trenton) didn't miss in the first half, going 10 of 10 from the line and 4 of 4 from the field (2 of 2 threes) to score 18. UNK had a comfortable 49-35 lead at the break but forwards
Bri Starks (three) and
Kelsey Fitzgerald (four) were in serious foul trouble.
Southwest Baptist, now 5-2 at home this season, outscored UNK by a 26-17 margin in the third quarter to make a game of it. Getting 20 points from starting guard Megan Rosenbohm, the 'Cats made it a three-point deficit, 64-61, after a Rosenbohm layup with 25 seconds to go in the quarter.
The Lopers regained control over the final 10 minutes, getting a triple from Becker at the 3:05 mark to push its lead back into double figures, 78-68. UNK then went 7 of 8 at the line to secure the win.
Becker finished 8 of 14 from the field (3 of 8 threes) to be four points shy of her career high, set last year in a win over Southwest Minnesota State. She also had seven rebounds (three offensive), five steals and four assists in 37 minutes of work. Becker needs just 22 more points to become the 24th Loper with 1,000 in a career.
Next, Alabama sophomore post
Imani Kyser went 6 of 12 from the floor, and 5 of 6 from the line, to tally a season-best 17 with Arizona junior point
Alexa Hogberg tallying 15 thanks to five made field goals (two threes).
Off the bench, Kearney freshman center
Brianna Miller had six points and five boards in just seven minutes.
UNK had three more turnovers, 19-16, than SBU but won the battle on the glass, 44-39. The 'Cats got 43 points off its bench but were just 3 of 14 from behind the arc to shoot 37% on the night.
Besides Rosebohm, freshman post Caylee Richardson had a double double (14 points & 10 rebounds) for SBU.
The Lopers are at No. 1 Fort Hays State (8-0) Saturday afternoon.
