Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Four starters scored in double figures and Nebraska-Kearney used a big second quarter to easily defeat Southwest Baptist, 75-46, Monday night on the Buckle Court at the Health & Sports Center.
 
This was an MIAA Tournament first round game. Ninth-seeded UNK (16-13) now faces top-seed and No. 7 Missouri Western State (26-2) Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in Kansas City. In the only meeting between the two this year, the Lopers handed the Griffons an 82-76 loss in St. Joseph.
 
UNK, looking for its first postseason win in seven years, got off to a bit of a slow start. Southwest Baptist (16-13) made its first three shots to grab an 8-0 lead and force Loper head coach Carrie Hofstetter to call timeout not even two minutes in. 
 
"I think they were some nerves to start the game. I just told them to relax and go play. Get a couple of stops and execute better on offense," said Hofstetter. "They responded and we were fine from that point on."
 
It was literally all Kearney after that as SBU went 13 of 53 (25%) from the field the rest of the way. They also were out rebounded 43-27 and allowed UNK to make 53% (29 of 55) of its shots. This was the fourth time this season the Lopers made over half its shots.
 
"It can be hard to beat a team three times," said Hofstetter, referring to UNK's regular season sweep of SBU. "I knew they were defending better than the first time we played them.  We were going to have to be good offensively and, defensively, I thought we were really, really good tonight."
 
After the 'Cats hot start, UNK rebounded to have things tied at 16 by the end of the first quarter. Behind 11 points from senior guard Laramey Becker (Trenton), the Lopers out cored SBU 23-8 over the next 10 minutes.
 
In the second half, guards McKenzie Brown (12) and Alexa Hogberg (10) combined for 22 points, the same total SBU tallied over the final two quarters.
 
Ahead by as many as 33 points, the final margin of victory (29) is the largest by a UNK team in the postseason since 2000. Finally, the Lopers improve to 15-0 in Division II conference tourney home games.
 
"It's a big deal (to get to K.C.). For the upperclassmen, it's something they've been wanting for a long time but hadn't been able to accomplish. For the younger kids, it's great to show them what it's about," said Hofstetter. "I don't think you know what you're missing in Kansas City until you make it."
 
Becker tallied 16 of her game-high 18 points in the first half by sinking 7 of 10 shots (2 of 3 threes). She also had six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Besides her offense, Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) had six assists with Brown (G.I. Northwest) going 4 of 6 from behind the arc.
 
Next, Kansas senior post Bri Starks scored 14 points in just 17 minutes with Lincoln freshman reserve post Kennedy Sander close to a double double (eight rebounds & seven points).
 
Finally, MIAA Freshman of the Year Caylee Richardson and Dilonna Johnson scored 11 points apiece for SBU.