Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Kelly Moten had 32 points, four assists, three blocks and three steals to help 12th-ranked Emporia State defeat Nebraska-Kearney, 81-67, Saturday afternoon in Kansas.
The Hornets (19-3, 10-3) are now 13-0 at home this year while the Lopers (7-14, 3-10) fall to 1-8 away from the Health & Sports Center.
A 2016 All-American, Moten (5-9) finished the day 10 of 12 from the field (2 of 2 threes) and 10 of 10 at the line. She had 25 first half points as ESU outscored UNK 26-10 in the second quarter and used a late first quarter run to take control.
Senior point guard
Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) made one of two free throws to give the Lopers a 12-9 leads six minutes into the action. Moten responded by making four free shots over the next minute and that started a 13-2 run.
Before the quarter ended, Moten hit two more freebies and drained a three at the buzzer. She went on to have just two shot attempts, both makes, in the second half.
Besides Moten's heroics, Emporia had a plus 13 rebounding margin, 40-27, and scored 36 of its points in the paint. Individually, starters Kathryn Flott and Kyrstie Miller both grabbed nine rebounds and combined for 20 points.
UNK did outscore ESU 43-31 in the second half and tallied 22 of its points off of 19 Hornet turnovers. The Lopers also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, three coming from Alabama junior reserve
Imani Kyser.
Four players reached double figures, led by Grand Island junior
McKenzie Brown (15) and Battle Creek junior
Michaela Barry (13). Hogberg added 11 with Lincoln freshman
Grace Barry (10) having another strong effort off the bench. She also had six of the team's eight assists.
Finally, in 14 minutes, Kyser had eight points, two blocks and a steal.
UNK hosts nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma Thursday night. The first place Bronchos (20-2, 11-2) were stunned by Southwest Baptist, 76-73, today in Edmond.
