Kearney, Neb. – Four starters scored in double figures and the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team shot 59 percent in the first half to easily defeat Northeastern State, 79-63, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

Improving to 12-1 at home, UNK (20-5, 12-5) reaches 20 wins for the first time in nine years. This marks the 17th 20-win season in the program's modern history (49th year).
Fourteen of those 20-wins seasons have come at the NCAA Division II level with the Lopers now having 775 wins since 1969.

To record one of its easier victories in the MIAA this season, the Lopers scored at least 21 points in the first three quarters and dominated points in the paint, 38-16. UNK led for 36 minutes and by as many as 24 points.

"It's crazy to say at this point of the season but we're continuing to get better. Continuing to grow in our ability to score on really good defenses and we'll see a good defense Tuesday night in Fort Hays State," said Loper head coach Carrie

Eighmey.

UNK led 21-14 after the opening quarter thanks to 7 of 13 shooting (54 percent). That included 3 of 5 three point shooting but NSU (9-15, 5-12) rallied a bit, getting a three from reserve Caitlyn Long to make it a 25-22 deficit. However, UNK closed the half on an 18-3 run that featured threes from senior Michaela Barry (Battle Creek) and freshmen Adreon Bell (Independence, Mo.) and six straight points by graduate transfer Alyssa Frauendorfer (Humphrey).

"We've execute well offensively the last few games and defensively, even though we lost Thursday (to Central Oklahoma), our effort has been really good," said Eighmey.

The 'Hawks, minus two key players due to injury, shot 50 percent (5 of 10) in the third quarter but UNK still increased its lead by two. NSU did go on an 11-0 run midway through the final quarter but the Lopers were already up 23 at the time of the spurt.

Barry led Kearney with 19 points, 12 coming in the first half. She was 7 of 12 from the floor (3 of 7 threes) while also handing out a team-best five assists. Next, senior McKenzie Brown had 11 points, five rebounds and two made triples. She now has 239 career made triples, just nine from breaking Beth Swift's career record set from 1998-2002.

Also on the perimeter, Crofton freshman Kelsey Sanger played a team-high 35 minutes and finished with 12 points and six boards (three offensive). Finally among the starters, Frauendorfer went 7 of 7 from the field (2 of 2 threes) to tally 17. Off the  bench, Bell had seven and sophomore forward Katey Brown (Craig) had five boards, five points, a block and steal.

NSU saw starter Bailee Eldred have a productive fourth quarter to finish with a double double (16 points and 10 rebounds).

UNK hosts Fort Hays State Tuesday night. The Tigers (21-5, 12-5) are tied with the Lopers for third in the MIAA, two games behind Pittsburg State and one game ahead of Central Oklahoma and Emporia State.