Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Deb Holcomb scored 21 points and Missouri Southern State knocked down 10 three pointers to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 79-66, Saturday afternoon in Joplin.
The Lions (5-4) are now 2-0 in MIAA play after an upset win over 25th-ranked Fort Hays State Thursday night.
MSSU quickly erased a 2-0 deficit and never trailed the Lopers (3-6, 0-2) again. The Lions shot 62 percent from the floor in the first 10 minutes, including a 6 of 7 effort from behind the arc. They finished 10 of 16 from the triple line and led 44-31 at the break
Holcomb (4 of 6) and reserve forward Jenson Maydwen (2 of 4) combined for six threes with four others making one. Fittingly, Mo Southern's first two made field goals were Holcomb three pointers.
UNK ended the day shooting 43 percent from the field (4 of 12 threes) and had a plus three rebounding margin, 35-32. For a third straight game, the Loper bench had a big day (26 points) but MSSU's tallied 32 of its own points.
In 31 minutes, Holcomb was 7 of 14 from the field and also had five rebounds and three assists. Maydew (15 points & 10 rebounds) had a double double with two other starters in double figures.
For Kearney Arizona senior point guard
Alexa Hogberg went 6 of 10 from the floor (2 of 2 threes) to tally a team-high 17 points. She also had two of UNK's four steals and grabbed three rebounds.
Five other Lopers scored between five and eight points, including Lincoln freshman point guard
Grace Barry and Alabama junior forward
Imani Kyser. On the glass, Dannebrog senior wing
Courtney Aitken had eight rebounds, five at the offensive end.
UNK hosts No. 1 Emporia State Thursday night. The Hornets moved to 8-0 after a 10-point win over defending national champion Lubbock Christian (Texas).
