Kearney, Neb. – Having won 30 of its last 36 games the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team hosts Rogers State and Northeastern State this weekend to close out first semester.
Due to winter commencement ceremonies in the Health & Sports Center the contests will be Friday at 5:30 p.m. (RSU) and Sunday at 1 p.m. (NSU). Catch the action via The MIAA Network, KRVN FM (93.1 and 106.9) and live stats.
The Lopers are off to a 4-0 start thanks to a defense allowing 49 points per game. Opponents are shooting only 34% from the field, 18% from behind the arc and attempting just 14 free throws per game. UNK has held all four foes below 54 points; the 2019-20 and 2001-02 Loper squads each had five contests with similar stinginess.
Averaging three blocks and seven steals a night, UNK is flashing its depth as well. Eleven players are averaging 10 a minutes a game with only one – point guard Haley Simental – logging at least 30. She recently sunk her 100th career triple (70 at UNK and 30 at Denver) and currently leads Kearney in scoring (12.0), threes made (10), assists (18), and is 8 for 8 at the line.
South Dakota junior winger Klaire Kirsch has a team-best nine steals and joins Elkhorn junior post Brooke Carlson as Lopers with three swats. Kirsch (473) and Carlson (358) are both well are their way to joining the Loper all-time rebounding list. Heather Steffen (906) set the record between 2001-04 with Mari Lyn DeVries ranking 10th (680). She played in the early and mid-1990's.
Rogers (1-4) features a roster with seven transfers and only one senior. The Hillcats, coming off a 4-24 season, are allowing 80 points a night and getting out rebounded by 4.4.
Five-six junior Samariah Thompson is averaging 21.2 points to rank third in the MIAA. She is 40 of 46 at the line and shooting 41% from the field. She was at 8.7 points per game last winter, sinking 57 free throws along the way. UNK downed RSU by scores of 79-47 and 74-59 in 2019/20.
Another young squad, the RiverHawks (2-3) have one senior among 14 players. Winnings its first two games and dropping its last three, NSU has a plus 2.8 turnover and a minus 2.6 rebounding margin.
Four average in double digits led by 5-9 sophomore Zaria Collins (20.5). She had made just one three but shoots 54% from the field. Next, senior Cenia Hayes is at 16.8 points and 6.4 rebounds a night. She had 27 points, eight boards and four assists in an 82-64 loss at UNK last winter. The Lopers took the earlier game in Tahlequah, 69-46.
The Division II winter moratorium (no practices or games) runs from December 21-27. UNK will get around 10 days of practice before heading to Lincoln and Central Missouri January 7-9.
