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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Klaire Kirsch
NW Missouri State Athletics
75
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 18-2,7-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
51
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 8-9,3-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
18-2,7-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
75
Final
51
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU
8-9,3-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 24 19 19 13 75
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 9 16 9 17 51

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

UNK Buries the Bearcats as Eighmey Reaches 150th Win

Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore post Brooke Carlson recorded her second career double and freshman reserve forward Madison Dreckman hit four three pointers to help Nebraska-Kearney dominate Northwest Missouri State, 75-51, Thursday night in Maryville.

The Lopers (18-2, 7-2) push its win streak to six straight and avenge a home loss to the Bearcats (8-9, 3-5) last season. This is the only meeting between the two this winter with the all-time series now tied at seven. Head Coach Carrie Eighmey

"I thought our team came out and was ready to go. The way we played tonight … we were disciplined, we were the toughest team on the floor, we had great energy and our execution was off the charts," said Loper assistant coach Devin Eighmey. "It's one of those nights where you're proud to be their coach. This group is special."

This marks the 150th career victory for Loper head coach Carrie Eighmey. She won 68 games in three seasons at Hastings College and is now up to 82 wins in a five-year UNK tenure.  

"She's a winner in every sense. Is it always easy? No because it shouldn't be easy to play in a good program. There's going to be standards," Eighmey said. "She just is the same person every day and that's very hard to fine."

It was all Lopers from the opening tip as they led 9-2 and 24-9 after the first quarter. Dreckman (Le Mars, Ia.) hit three early triples as UNK made 10 of its first 17 shots including 4 of 6 from behind the arc. Northwest, down two starters, struggled offensively to the tune of 4 of 17 shooting (0 of 6 threes) over the first 10 minutes. They warmed up a bit in the fourth quarter but still ended the night 3 of 18 from three-point land and 4 of 10 from the line. They were Division II's best free throw shooting club (82.3 pct.) coming in.

"Offensively it was like a clinic. We shared the ball really well. They had to iso us the whole game if they were going to beat us. We made adjustments from last year's game. We saw that on film … that wasn't Loper brand that you typically see on the floor," Eighmey said.

Being plus 16 on the glass and shooting 50% from the field (54.4) for the seventh time this year, UNK had two starters and two reserves reach double digits. Carlson (Elkhorn), popped in the mouth in the early going, responded by having 22 points and 13 rebounds (four offensive). The point total ties her career-high, first achieved in the season-opener vs. Minnesota-Crookston, with the carom total a new personal best.

Carlson went 10 of 15 from the field, 2 of 2 at the line and had four steals to boot. Next point guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) had 10 points and six assists with Dreckman in double digits (14) for the fifth time this year. She was 5 of 7 (4 of 5 threes) from the field and also grabbed four defensive rebounds in just 16 minutes of work.

Finally Kansas reserve sophomore forward Elisa Backes had another productive effort (12 points, four blocks & three boards) with South Dakota sophomore wing Klaire Kirsch at eight rebounds, four points and three dimes.

Northwest saw 5-9 junior starter and 6-2 freshman reserve post Paityn Rau go for 14 apiece. The pair combine to go 13 of 20 from the field; the rest of the 'Cats was only 9 of 34.

UNK heads to Missouri Western State on Saturday afternoon. The Griffons (14-3, 6-2) blasted nationally-ranked Fort Hays State tonight, 75-58, to improve to 9-0 at home.  

 
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