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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum
UNK Athletics
91
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 12-1
51
Puerto Rico-Mayaguez UPRM-W
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB
12-1
91
Final
51
Puerto Rico-Mayaguez UPRM-W
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 27 18 25 21 91
Puerto Rico-Mayaguez UPRM-W 11 14 14 12 51

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

A 2-0 Puerto Rico Trip Yields Best Start Since '01

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team scored the first 12 points and got a strong effort from its bench to dominate Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 91-51, Friday night in San Juan.

The Lopers (12-1) are now off until early January. This is UNK's best start since the 2000-01 squad won its first 18 games.

"We were much better than yesterday and I think our team was much more well-adjusted to being here. Got used to the time change and it was another day to rest and relax. Yesterday was an opportunity to get a game under their belts and get their legs going after some long travel," UNK head coach Carrie Eighmey said. "Offensively we moved the ball better and were able to establish an inside-outside game. Our post presence really sparked our perimeter game. And we able to shoot the ball way better than Thursday."

Tonight's game was held in the 12,000-seat Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum, home of the men's professional team Vaqueros de Bayamon. The PRM Janes are a Division II independent program so this goes down as a non-region D2 win for UNK. 2019 PR Trip Team - PRM

Kearney came out on fire, sinking 9 of its first 14 shots including a 3 of 4 effort from downtown. UNK was 3 of 29 from the three point line in Friday's victory against Sacred Heart.

"Defensively we were really good from the start. We were able to dictate what the offense was able to do, have multiple stops in a row and got several deflections. In every facet better than yesterday," Eighmey said. "We forced them into tough shots early and were able to get really good looks at the basket. Getting off to a quick start was helpful and gave our team some confidence."

While the Lopers tallied the first 12 points, PRM hung around until midway through the third quarter. UNK was up 27-11 after the first quarter and 45-25 at the break. A 9-0 Loper run made it 61-31 by the 4:01 of the third with this stretch featuring three straight treys.

The Lopers had four score in double digits with three of those being reserves in Kansas sophomore forward Elisa Backes (17), Iowa freshman forward Madison Dreckman (11) and South Dakota freshman guard Trinity Law (10). Dreckman and Law each went 4 of 4 from the field with Backes following up her Friday double double with a 7 of 11 (2 of 4 threes) shooting effort. She also had five boards in just 16 minutes of work.

Backes Three"Elisa is playing really well right now. She was really good down here and yesterday she was a big boost for us. She kind of pulled us out of that slump and she's been solid at both ends of the floor. Defensively she's been able to use her length and is way better with physicality now. On offense she's so versatile … she shoots these, can put the ball on the floor, can post up and is a good passer," Eighmey said.

UNK finished the night making 51% (31 of 61) of its shots while also sinking 17 of 28 free throws and making 12 triples. The Lopers were plus 13 on the glass, had 19 fast break points with the bench outscoring the Janes by 37 points.

Among the starters Elkhorn sophomore Brooke Carlson got off to a quick start and ended with 13 points, a team-best eight boards and two blocks with South Dakota sophomore guard Klaire Kirsch having her typical all-around effort (six rebounds, five assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block).

Mayaguez was led by Vianca Malave (11 points, six boards & two steals) and Victoria Suarez (10 points).

"This has been a great experience for our team. It's two fold ... we obviously think about the basketball side where we get to play two true road games in a different environment. It's also a great opportunity for our student-athletes to have a memorable experience. It's the kind of trip they'll remember for a long time," Eighmey said. 
 
 
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