Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Missouri Southern State outscored Nebraska-Kearney 28-4 in the second quarter to post a 76-53 victory Thursday night in Joplin.
 
The Lions (16-8, 10-8) win a second straight game and avenge a 65-50 loss to the Lopers (12-11, 8-9) earlier this season.
 
Both teams were cold early, combining for 20 first quarter points. UNK scored the first six points and still led 10-7 before a three from junior guard Deb Holcomb tied things up with three seconds left in the first.
 
Everything changed in the second 10 minutes as MSSU made seven of its first eight shots, including a 4 of 4 effort from behind the arc, to build a 28-12 lead. They then closed the quarter on a 20-2 run to take complete control.
 
UNK made just 22% (5 of 23) of its shots in the first half. The Lopers rebounded to sink 14 of 27 (5 of 10 threes) field goals in the second half but never got closer than 20 points.
 
Shooting 52% on the night, MSSU got 15 points from both starting guard Sharese Jones and reserve guard Dru Clark. Both grabbed five rebounds with Jones also having three assists over 29 minutes. Six others tallied at least four points, including Holcomb (13).
 
Getting out rebounded by seven, 32-25, UNK was led once again by Trenton senior guard Laramey Becker. She scored 19 by making six field goals, four from long range.
 
Off the bench, sophomore guard Courtney Aitken (Dannebrog) had seven points and five rebounds with South Dakota junior forward Kelsey Fitzgerald providing four points and three boards in 15 minutes.
 
UNK is at 23rd-ranked Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon. The Gorillas (20-4, 14-4) upset 5th-ranked Fort Hays State tonight, 79-69.