Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Three players scored in double figures and Wayne State held Nebraska-Kearney to 29 percent shooting from the field to post a 69-56 win Saturday night at Rice Auditorium.

This was the season opener for both squads.

Wayne, picked to finish second in the 16-team NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.), lost to UNK by a 76-59 score last November. They made sure there would be a different result this time around as its 2-3 zone forced Kearney to go 21 of 73 (5 of 28 threes) from the floor. 

UNK had a big advantage on the offensive glass, 16-4, had nine fewer turnovers, 20-11, and took 30 more shots. The Lopers led 12-8 after the first 10 minutes but were outscored in the three remaining quarters.

For the Wildcats, junior forward Maggie Schulte went 8 of 11 at the line and 5 of 11 from the field to score a game-high 19 points. She also had eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Next, fellow post Paige Ballinger tallied 14 with reserve post Andrea Larson scoring 14 points in 15 minutes.

Loper senior and newcomer Nieka Wheeler (Independence, Mo.) had a busy first night, going 8 of 24 from the field to score a team-best 17. She also had 11 rebounds (five offensive) in 25 total minutes.

Finally, playing her first game in two years, junior guard Michaela Barry (Norfolk Catholic) made three triples to score 15 with Arizona senior point guard Alexa Hogberg having a game-high seven assists.

UNK hosts Grace University Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.