Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team scored the first six points in overtime to get past Missouri Southern State, 72-67, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (8-0, 2-0) win a second straight extra session game and are now 3-0 in overtime this year; UNK was 0-6 in OT games the four previous seasons. The Lions, meanwhile, fall to 1-7 (0-2).  

Thanks to some hot early shooting, Kearney lead 21-13 at the end of the first quarter and 35-23 at the break. However, MSSU went 9 of 15 (60 percent) from the field in the third to quickly get back into the game. Starting post Jenson Maydew scored 14 of her game-high 22 points in this quarter as she was 5 of 5 (3 of 3 threes) from the field.

MSSU's momentum continued in the fourth quarter as they not only erased that large deficit but also held three different three point leads. The last came at 62-59 with 2:29 remaining. Neither team scored again until graduate transfer Alyssa Frauendorfer (Humphrey) converted a three-point play with 99 seconds left.

Post Desirea Buerge (18 points & 10 rebounds) missed two free throws soon after and the Frauendorfer sunk two freebies at the 31 second mark to give UNK the lead back. But, after a timeout, lefty guard Jasmine Green made a driving layup to knot things up at 64. The Lopers had a chance to win it at the buzzer but a driving layup from senior McKenzie Brown (G. I. Northwest) didn't fall.

The Lions took the first five shots in overtime but missed them all. A Buerge travel call allowed UNK to get the ball back and Frauendorfer made a layup with 2:28 remaining. The Lopers didn't trail again as MSSU missed three more shots. The last one, a three by Buerge, came with a second left and thus MSSU finished 6 of 26 from behind the arc. 

"We knew they would work it inside and they did a good job of that in the second half. They were able to get us in situations where we had to bring help and that opened up other opportunities," said Loper head coach Carrie Eighmey.

Both teams grabbed 41 rebounds and shot just above 40 percent from the field. UNK did go 16 of 21 at the line with MSSU making 5 of 9 freebies. Finally, Kearney's bench outscored the MSSU reserves by 13.       

Battle Creek senior guard Michaela Barry had 13 of her 15 of her team-high 21 points in the second half and overtime. She was 8 of 16 from the field and 5 of 7 at the line while also having six defensive rebounds, two assists and a steal in 41 minutes.

Briefly coming off the court due to a tweaked knee, Frauendorfer had 14 points and five rebounds, Brown hit two threes to score 10 with reserves Kennedy Sander (Lincoln Pius X) and Kelsey Sanger (Crofton) combining for 11 points and 10 rebounds. Brown's second three came in OT and put UNK ahead six. Sanger, playing 31 minutes, grabbed the last rebound and had several hustle plays throughout the game.

"As much as it is a mismatch for us, it's a mismatch for the other team. When they are bigger and trying to pound it inside, we try and go smaller (with Sanger). That forces them to guard a little more on the perimeter and be able to defend in space," said Eighemy. 

Besides Buerge, Maydew has 22 points and 11 rebounds with Chelsey Henry at 13 points, five assists and five boards.

UNK heads to Emporia State and Washburn next week.