Kearney, Neb. – Senior McKenzie Brown scored a career-high 28 points and Nebraska-Kearney made 11 three pointers to roll past rival Fort Hays State, 78-64, Saturday afternoon at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Kansas.

With the effort, the Lopers (12-3, 4-3) stop a 14-game losing streak to the Tigers (12-4, 3-4) which dated back to November 2008. Hays came in having won 84 of its past 88 home games.

This is UNK's largest margin of victory in the series in 14 years and the Tigers biggest home setback since February 2009. To reach these lofty marks, the Lopers shot 55 percent from the field, including an 11 of 16 effort from behind the arc, against one of the MIAA's best defensive teams.

"Anytime you can come in here and win ... that is an unbelievable statement on the type of game that you played. We came out throwing punches, we were patient and we came out with great urgency on the defensive end. We got stops and then saw the ball go through the basket early," said Loper assistant Brandon Rohr.

Besides its hot shooting, Kearney also was plus four on the glass, 35-31, made 11 of 13 free throws, sent Hays to the line only 12 times and limited the Tigers to four fast break points. Defensively, FHSU was shut down from the three point line (3 of 17) en route to 40 percent shooting overall.

"The ball moved well today and we made a lot of extra passes, a lot of kick out passes. That is a testament to our girls being unselfish and nobody was caring who got the shot," said Rohr.

Brown (G.I. Northwest) continued a super season by going 10 of 15 (6 of 6 threes) from the field and 2 of 2 at the line. Over a team-high 36 minutes, she also supplied four rebounds, two blocks and an assist. Having 17 points in the first half, this marks Brown's fourth 20-point game of the year. Her previous career-best of 26 points came back in November vs. Colo.-Colo. Springs in Gross.

"McKenzie was unconscious today. We've been telling her all week this is a place where she shoots the ball well. It's a place where she feels comfortable and we got her some good matchups and she made plays," said Rohr.

UNK led for 37 minutes and by as many as 17 points. The Lopers capped each of the first three quarters with a three to lead 20-18, 43-32 and 60-45. The momentum-building treys came from three different players; overall, UNK had seven in the scoring column with four making at least one trey

"We tried to exploit a few match ups that we had. (The threes at the end of each quarter) were a prime example of the energy we played with today. Our togetherness was off the charts and, as coaches, we were more proud of that anything," said Rohr.

A three from sophomore point guard Jenna Gillespie (Holdrege) made it 20-18 with 48 seconds left in the opening quarter and UNK never trailed again. Hays cut an 11-point deficit to six near the end of the next quarter but senior guard Michaela Barry (Battle Creek) scored five straight to push the Loper lead back in to double digits.

In the third quarter, UNK was up 52-45 before getting a three-point play from freshman reserve Kelsey Sanger (Crofton), a jumper from Brown and a triple by Humphrey graduate transfer Alyssa Frauendorfer. The Tigers didn't get closer than 13 points the rest of the way

Junior wing Tatyana Legette, her team's leading scorer on the year, paced the Tigers with 20 points on 9 of 13 shooting. Former UNL commit and Kansas State Wildcat Lanie Page had eight points and three boards.

UNK hosts Northwest Missouri State (1-14, 0-7) and Missouri Western State (10-6, 3-4) next weekend.