Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Washburn Ichabods used balanced scoring and a big second half to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 57-48, Saturday evening in the Health & Sports Center.

The 'Bods (7-3, 1-1) bounce back from a Wednesday loss at Fort Hays State while the Lopers fall to 3-8 (0-4).

UNK erased a 13-11 first quarter deficit by completely shutting down Washburn in the second 10 minutes. The 'Bods went 1 of 10 (0 of 5 threes) from the field to be outscored 16-5. A three from senior point guard Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) made it 24-16 at the 2:09 mark of the half.

The Kearney advantage was 29-20 early in the second half when Washburn caught fire and made a big move. A 17-6 run was capped with a Reagan Phelan jumper and UNK wouldn't lead again. After missing its first seven shots of the game, the 'Bods went 6 of 7 from the field to start the second half.

In the fourth quarter, the Lopers went 2 of 14 from the field but still had a chance. Down 46-43, an apparent bucket was wiped off due to a charge. Later, a Phelan jumper made it 51-46 with 59 seconds left.

"We had some opportunities at the end. But they finished their shots at the rim and we didn't," said Loper head coach Carrie Eighmey. "You hold a team to 57 points and you feel like you have a decent shot of winning the game."

The Lopers finished 16 of 53 (6 of 22) from the field, including a 6 of 26 effort in the second half. By comparison, Washburn made 14 of its 26 second half attempts (4 of 7 threes).

Also having a plus nine rebounding margin, Washburn got 13 points from Erika Lane and 12 from Phelan. Five others were between four and nine points, including nine from
reserve guard Makayla Vargo.

"We hit some shots in the first half. We didn't hit those same shots in the second half," said Eighmey.

For the Blue & Gold, Grand Island junior guard McKenzie Brown went 3 of 9 from behind the arc to score a team-high 15. Off the bench, Missouri senior post Nieka Wheeler had 10 points and four rebounds in 27 minutes with Dannebrog senior Courtney Aitken at a team-best eight rebounds (three offensive) and four points before fouling out late.

UNK will practice this week before taking next week off due to the Division II moratorium. The Lopers then host York College on Friday, December 30th.