Skip To Main Content

University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Adreon Bell
Corbey R. Dorsey
60
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 19-2,8-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
57
Missouri Western MW 14-4,6-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
19-2,8-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
60
Final
57
Missouri Western MW
14-4,6-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 16 12 12 20 60
Missouri Western MW 11 15 13 18 57

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Win Streak at Seven after Hard Fought 60-57 Decision

Kearney, Neb. – Three players scored in double figures and junior Kelsey Sanger hit a key late free throw to help Nebraska-Kearney hold off Missouri Western State, 60-57, Saturday afternoon in St. Joseph.

The Lopers (19-2, 8-2) are now tied with Central Oklahoma for second place in the league standings while the Griffons (14-4, 6-3) suffer its first home loss of the winter (9-1). UNK also beats a squad that has eliminated it from the MIAA Tournament each of the past two seasons.

"Missouri Western is a quality basketball team with a really good coach (former Texas Tech head coach Candice Whitaker). They were a team on Thursday that beat Hays by 17," said Loper assistant coach Devin Eighmey. "I thought we were locked in today. We knew what was at stake … this was an opportunity to get a quality road win. We just kept battling."

The grind it out affair featured 10 lead changes, eight ties and no lead bigger than eight points. The Lopers seemed in good shape up 54-48 with 3:26 left and possession of the ball. However the athletic and long Griffons forced three turnovers in a less than a minute to cut the deficit to two. They missed a shot at the rim with 2:32 left that would've tied things at 54.

Point guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) quieted MWSU Fieldhouse with her third and final triple of the day, making it 57-52 at the 2:20 mark. Mo West didn't go away, getting a three-point play from senior guard Anastacia Johnson with 47 seconds left to trim the deficit to 59-57.

UNK missed a baseline layup with the shot clock winding down but Johnson couldn't hit a pull up free throw line jumper with five seconds to go. A contested rebound luckily went to the Lopers as the possession arrow was pointing in the right direction. Sanger (Crofton) was subsequently fouled and hit the second of two freebies. After a timeout and advancement, MWSU got the ball to senior guard Kylee Williams and her right wing three attempt was contested by several Lopers with Kansas sophomore reserve Elisa Backes getting credit for a block.

"Early in the first quarter we had a chance to stretch the lead (up 9-1 and 16-11) a little bit more than we did. Then they made a run in the second and we kind of wavered that, along with some foul trouble with our fours," Eighmey said. "We had a good start in the third and in the fourth I thought we had it but got a little sloppy late. Some careless turnovers and not taking care of the basketball."

Out shooting MWSU by 14 percentage points and plus six on the glass, UNK saw Simental score a team-high 17, Elkhorn sophomore post Brooke Carlson go for 16 and seven rebounds with Iowa freshman reserve post Madison Dreckman having a second straight big effort at 11 points and three boards in just 16 minutes.

Simental and Carlson combined to go 13 of 22 from the field with seven different Lopers grabbing at least three boards. That included Missouri junior reserve point guard Adreon Bell with six.

"To hold a team like that to 57 points at home is an outstanding job. It's a great resume win for us," Eighmey said. "I think this (Mo West) is a Top 25 team. Have wins against Florida Southern and Hays, played Central Missouri tough."

Minus leading scorer Chris Wilson for a second straight night due to injury, Mo West saw Johnson go for 20 points, six boards (four offensive), three steals and no turnovers in 27 minutes. They also got a double double from junior newcomer post Corbyn Cunningham (15 pts., 10 rebs.).

UNK heads to rival Fort Hays State next Saturday.
 
 
Print Friendly Version