Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team held Northeastern State to single digits in each of the last three quarters to pull away and win 54-36 Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK (9-14, 5-10) has won five of its last eight games and is riding a two-game win streak for the third time this season. The Lopers are now tied with Lindenwood for 10th place in the MIAA standings.

Prior to opening tip, seniors Courtney Aitken (Dannebrog), Kelsey Fitzgerald (Yankton, S.D), Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) and Nieka Wheeler (Independence, Mo.) were honored.

The first quarter was track meet as the teams combined to score 37 points on 17 of 27 (2 of 5 threes) shooting. NSU came in at 75 percent (9 of 12) with UNK at 53 percent (8 of 15).

Things changed quickly in the second quarter as they were just 13 points scored. The RiverHawks (6-17, 2-12), now on a 10-game skid, went 2 of 15 (2 of 8 threes) with the Lopers making just 3 of 13 shots.

Both teams remained cold in the second half but UNK started to pull away at the end of the third quarter and held a double digit lead for most of the fourth.

"They shot 75 percent in the first quarter and that was a bit concerning. Defensively, we really locked down in the second half," said UNK head coach Carrie Eighmey. "Courtney had some big steals and really limited their top scorer (Rylie Torrey)"

After that sizzling start, NSU was 5 of 38 (13%) from the field over the final three quarters. This marks only the seventh time UNK has held a Division II squad under 37 points.

Committing a season-low four turnovers, the Lopers had a 45-33 rebounding margin to offset 32% (19 of 59) shooting. Kearney also went 12 of 15 at the line and tallied 15 second chance points thanks to 14 offensive boards.

Now needing two more assists to break Tami Tully's school record of 373, Hogberg had 12 points, three dimes, three boards (two offensive), a steal and no turnovers in 33 minutes. From the wing, Aitken grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds (five defensive), scored seven points and had two of UNK's four steals.

"Courtney is the one that will do all the dirty work. She's probably our glue kid and does a lot things that don't show up in the box score," said Eighmey. "Alexa has been here a long time and been through some change and adversity. She's a great point guard; you never have to worry about her getting pressed. Alexa and Kelsey have been key in moving us in the right direction."

Once again, Alabama sophomore post Imani Kyser was big off the bench, finishing with 11 points, seven boards and two blocks in 20 minutes. She went 4 of 4 from the field, 3 of 3 at the line and had a team-best four o-boards.

Finally, Fitzgerald had seven rebounds and two blocks with Wheeler adding five points in seven minutes.

"Kelsey is a great defender. She has blocked a lot of shots and is pretty versatile defensively. She can guard a guard or go in the post," said Eighmey. "Nieka has been huge for our depth. Her game is a little different than our other post players. She also is a good defender."

UNK heads to Central Oklahoma Thursday night.