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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Brooke Carlson
Corbey R. Dorsey
65
Neb.-Kearney UNK 23-3,12-3 Mid-Am
75
Winner Central Missouri UCM 20-4,14-1 Mid-Am
Neb.-Kearney UNK
23-3,12-3 Mid-Am
65
Final
75
Central Missouri UCM
20-4,14-1 Mid-Am
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 12 11 19 23 65
Central Missouri UCM 11 16 16 32 75

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Jennies Use Fourth Quarter Run to Win 75-65

Kearney, Neb. – Seniors Morgan Fleming and Megan Skaggs combined for 45 points and No. 16/24 Central Missouri sunk 27 of 28 free throws to beat No. 22/25 Nebraska-Kearney, 75-65, Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg.

This battle for first place in the MIAA standings was the only meeting between the Jennies (20-4, 14-1) and Lopers (23-3, 12-3) this season. UNK sees an 11-game win streak come to an end and falls to 1-8 all-time vs. UCM.

"It was a one-point game early in the fourth. I didn't think it was our effort or the ability to play hard. It comes down to make plays at the right time and they made some timely ones," UNK assistant coach Devin Eighmey said. "They have two outstanding seniors and they carried them in the fourth."

On "Senior Day" it was fitting Fleming and Skaggs led the Jennies to victory. Each played 36 minutes with Fleming tallying a game-high 24 points (11 of 12 FT's) and grabbing eight boards while Skaggs ended with 21 points (11 of 11 FT's), six rebounds and three steals. The pair, combining for 23 fourth quarter points, helped UCM go 19 of 19 at the line over the final 10 minutes.

Crofton junior guard Kelsey Sanger nailed a three with 7:22 remaining to make it just a two-point deficit, 47-45. However UCM responded with an 18-4 run over the next four minutes to salt things away. This key stretch featured three of the Jennies eight made threes with Skaggs and Fleming each hitting one. UNK, which trailed the entire second half, hit four threes in the final three minutes to make things a bit interesting but UCM, a 75% free throw shooting team, didn't miss at the line.  

UCM went 8 of 20 (40.0 pct.) from behind the line, the second highest by a Loper opponent this year. UNK was holding teams to under 25% with the last five opponents 20 of 102 (19.6 pct.) from three land. 

"We had our chances. When we had a three-point in the first half it should've been five or seven. We took five more shots than they did but we missed a few around the basket. Their length did cause some problems," Eighmey said. "Offensively we kept our heads down at times and missed some open people."

The Lopers were out rebounded by just two and shot 42% from the field. Making seven of 14 free throws, UNK almost got a double double from Elkhorn sophomore post Brooke Carlson (15 pts., nine rebs.) while South Dakota sophomore Klaire Kirsch (12 rebs., 10 pts.) did record her third double double of the winter. Eight others scored including six points apiece by reserves Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.) and Madison Dreckman (Le Mars, Ia.).

Besides Skaggs and Fleming UCM got nine points, five assists and three steals from junior guard Gigi McAtee.

UNK hosts Rogers State and Northeastern State next week.

 

 
 
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