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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Corbey R. Dorsey
92
Nebraska-Kearney UNK 15-11, 8-9 MIAA
93
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 16-11, 7-10 MIAA
Nebraska-Kearney UNK
15-11, 8-9 MIAA
92
Final
93
Central Oklahoma UCO
16-11, 7-10 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Nebraska-Kearney UNK 6 28 21 27 10 92
Central Oklahoma UCO 21 14 26 21 11 93

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

UCO Takes Wild West Shootout, 93-92 in OT

Kearney, Neb. – Junior guard Shatoya Bryson scored 25 points and Central Oklahoma sunk 14 three pointers to outscore Nebraska-Kearney in overtime, 93-92, Saturday afternoon in Edmond.  

UCO (16-11, 7-10) avenges a 74-58 loss to the Lopers (15-11, 8-8) earlier this year and also grabs a one-game lead in the all-time series, 8-7.

UNK has ranked among the MIAA leaders in scoring defense all season, allowing around 60 points per game on 37 percent shooting. UCO erupted for 21 first quarter points and added 26 more in the third and 21 in the fourth to pick up a win in one of the highest scoring games in Loper lore. The 'Chos shot 44 percent from the field (30 of 68) including a 14 of 30 effort from downtown. That total is the most by a Loper opponent this year.

"There's lots of things that can get you beat. We missed some free throw box outs, we let them go baseline. Then they started lightening us up with threes in the third quarter. They are college basketball players … they can hit shots," said Loper assistant coach Devin Eighmey.

Despite trailing 21-6 after 10 minutes and 78-66 with three minutes left in regulation, UNK still had two chances to win. However, a three from the right wing by Wahoo freshman Aspen Jansa was a bit long right before the regulation horn sounded. In overtime the Lopers got a defensive stop but a shot inside by Iowa freshman Maegan Holt didn't drop with six seconds left and UCO grabbed the board.

"That start was as bad as it can be in college basketball. We were lucky we into halftime down one. Credit the girls for battling back and giving themselves an opportunity and a chance to win," Eighmey. "We also were in a tough situation today with one of the officials down. They did a good job as a two-man crew."

Finishing the day a strong 11 of 26 from the three point line, UNK closed regulation on a 16-4 run to force five more minutes. South Dakota freshman Klaire Kirsch hit two threes in the final 24 seconds to cap the big run. A UCO team turnover then allowed the Lopers and Jansa a very surprising chance to win for the fifth time on the road.

In overtime UNK went 1 of 4 at the line but still led 90-89 after a layup by Elkhorn freshman Brooke Carlson. However, the 'Chos followed with back-to-back buckets, the second being a tip-in by six-foot junior reserve post Ireon Smith (17 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks & three assists). Starting the extra session with a triple, Jansa scored UNK's final bucket with 46 seconds remaining to setup the wild finish.

Four Loper starters reached double digits including 19 by Iowa freshman Shiloh McCool and a season-high 18 from Kirsch. Both fell a rebound short of a double double while Jansa had nine points in 14 minutes off the bench.

Bryson did her damage thanks to 8 of 16 (2 of 7 threes) shooting with fellow starter Micayla Haynes providing 22 more points. Smith did all of her damage in just 29 minutes and, besides her post work, sunk three treys.

UNK hosts Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern State next weekend to close out the regular season.
 
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