Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard
Laramey Becker had another big effort to help Nebraska-Kearney roll past Missouri Southern State, 65-50, Saturday evening at the Health & Sports Center.
UNK evens its record to 6-6 (2-5) with the Lions dropping to 9-4 (3-4).
Becker (Trenton) became the 24th Loper to score 1,000 points in a career when she went for 20 in a road loss at Central Missouri back on December 19th.
Tonight, playing a team-high 34 minutes, she went for 21 points, 10 rebounds (five offensive), three assists, three steals and no turnovers. Making 10 of 15 shots, Becker now has three double doubles over her last five games and is averaging 22.8 points since November 28th.
"Laramey has really been good for us. It's all coming together for her and I think the game is slowing down. That tends to happen when you become a senior," said UNK head coach Carrie Hofsetter. "She's been very efficient and she's taking good shots. Laramey separates herself with her effort. She plays 110 percent every possession."
UNK's defense shut down Missouri Southern in the first half as the Lions were just 8 of 28 (28.6%) from the field. Going 1 of 9 from behind the arc, MSSU missed 10 straight shots at one point.That helped the Lopers grab a 31-20 lead by the break and they never let the Lions get closer than six points the rest of the way.
"Tonight we came back and redeemed ourselves. In our last game, we were up by 14 in the fourth quarter but didn't handle things well down the stretch. We handled the clock much better tonight," said Hofstetter.
Six others Lopers were between four and 11 points, including Grand Island sophomore guard
McKenzie Brown and Arizona junior point guard
Alexa Hogberg. Brown made three of UNK's five triples with Hogberg having five of Kearney's 14 assists.
Off the bench, Dannebrog sophomore
Courtney Aitken had seven rebounds (six defensive) and five points.
Mo Southern was led by its star, senior forward Sharese Jones. She had 15 points, seven boards and two steals over 34 minutes.
UNK hosts Pittsburg State Monday night.
