Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Laramey Becker scored 21 points and the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team grabbed 51 rebounds to dominate Northeastern State, 82-49, Saturday afternoon at the Buckle Court at the Health & Sports Center.
 
With the win, UNK improves to 9-8 (5-6) with the RiverHawks dropping to 5-12 (2-9).
 
While NSU hit three early threes to hang around in the first quarter, they never led in the game and ended up 15 of 52 (28.8%) from the field. UNK had a 51-22 margin on the glass, leading to 17 second chance points.
 
Holding the RiverHawks to three second quarter points, UNK led by as many as 38. The margin of victory (33) ties the effort earlier this year at Lincoln, 72-49, for the largest by a Loper team in an MIAA game.
 
"The players did a good job of prepping and knowing whom they were guarding and understanding what to do to take away their strengths. It was fairly effective," said Loper head coach Carrie Hofstetter.
 
Becker was 7 of 14 from the floor (1 of 4 threes) and 6 of 6 at the line to reach her game-high point total. Scoring 14 after the break, she also had six rebounds (three offensive), three steals and two assists.
 
Next, senior post Bri Starks (14), freshman post Kennedy Sander (10) and freshman guard Jenna Gillespie (10) reach scored in double figures with Grand Island sophomore guard McKenzie Brown tallying nine.
 
Playing 24 minutes off the bench, Gillespie (Holdrege) hit three of UNK's nine treys to record her season-best point total
 
"They had 16 points at the half and then came out and had 20 in the third quarter. That tends to happen when you have a lead," said Hofstetter. "We challenged them to try and hold them under nine in the fourth quarter. Our overall defensive effort was much better today."
 
Finally for Kearney, Alabama sophomore post Imani Kyser had a game-high nine rebounds, six points and two assists in 16 minutes of work.
 
NSU saw starting guard Kate Bellamy (11) and reserve guard Cailyn Long (10) reach double digits in points.
 
UNK is at NW Missouri State Thursday night.