Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team steps back into conference play this weekend with home games against Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri.
To date, the Lopers have played nine games against Division II competition and the combined record of those teams is 80-33 (70.7 win pct.). That win percentage will rise even higher as UCM has won 10 straight with SBU currently sporting a 9-3 record.
The Southwest Baptist Bearcats visit Thursday at 5:30 p.m. with the Jennies of UCM stopping by Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Check the
UNK schedule page for media links.
Last winter, UNK beat SBU twice in the regular season (89-75 away & 64-52 home) and in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament, 75-46. That game was played in the Health & Sports Center. This season, SBU traveled to Lincoln and fell to the 'Huskers, 73-71, in an exhibition game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A balanced 'Cat attack averages 75.5 points per game thanks to 75.5 percent shooting from the free throw line. SBU has a super plus 12.7 rebounding margin, which ranks second best in the MIAA.
Turning the ball over 16 times per game, SBU is led by junior guard Megan Rosenbohm (14.9 points & 3.3 rebounds per game) and Caylee Richardson (11.1 points & 6.4 rebounds pg). Of note, Rosenbohm didn't appear in SBU's last two contests.
A 6-2 sophomore, Richardson is shooting 68% percent from the field and 83 percent at the line with Rosenbohm one of two 'Cats with a double digit three point total (12). Freshman guard Madison Strong (6.3 ppg) has sunk a team-high 18 threes and done so in nine games played.
The Jennies, coming off an 11-18 season, are 4-0 on the road, 3-1 at home and 3-0 at neutral sites. They fell to Concordia-St. Paul, 74-65, to begin the year but haven't lost since.
Shooting 44% from the field and 75% at the line, UCM averages eight made threes per game and has three averaging double figures. The 13-player roster also features eight underclassmen.
Sophomore guard Paige Redmond (16.5) leads the offense thanks to a 22 of 53 effort from behind the arc. She also makes 83% of her free throws and has a team-best 41 assists.
The post includes six-foot freshman Morgan Fleming (12.4 ppg), 5-10 senior Ashley Duffy (11.3 ppg) and six-foot junior Kayonna Lee (8.2 rebounds & 7.9 rebounds pg). Last year, UCM nipped UNK at home, 64-62, but lost in Kearney, 78-61.
UNK (4-8, 0-4) is coming off a 92-39 pasting of York College last Friday night. To reach a season-high point total, the Lopers shot a season-best 59% from the field, had a plus 17 rebounding margin and took advantage of 30 turnovers.
Currently 4-3 on the Buckle Court, the Lopers have seen guards
Michaela Barry (Battle Creek) and
Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) start all 12 games this year.
Hogberg is again among the MIAA leaders in assists per game (4.0) while also ranking third on UNK in scoring (8.1) and second in free throw percentage (81.0). Barry leads the Lopers in scoring (13.0), is tied for first in threes made (22) and second in both assists (22) and blocks (six). She had 15 points in the win over York, the seventh time this season she has reached double figures.
Also on the perimeter, Grand Island junior
McKenzie Brown has 35 points over the last two games. She sunk a career-high five threes against the Panthers last Friday, pushing her career total to 148. That is the seventh most in Loper lore.
UNK has just one game next week, a home tilt against Fort Hays State (Thursday, January 12th).
