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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Madison Dreckman
Corbey R. Dorsey
65
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 12-0,12-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
57
Mo. Southern St. MSSU 4-8,4-8 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
12-0,12-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
65
Final
57
Mo. Southern St. MSSU
4-8,4-8 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 13 14 16 22 65
Mo. Southern St. MSSU 14 16 12 15 57

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1/28/2021 | 5:30 p.m. (NEW DATE)

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Jan. 28 (Thu) / 5:30 p.m. (NEW DATE)
 Fort Hays State
History

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

No. 4 Lopers Get to a Dozen Wins

Kearney, Neb. – Junior forward Elisa Backes had another big effort as No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney pulled away from Missouri Southern State, 65-57, Saturday afternoon in Joplin.

The Lopers (12-0) remain unbeaten while the Lions (4-8) drop a fifth straight game. This remains the third best start in school history, trailing efforts by the 1997-98 (15-0) and 2000-01 (18-0) squads.

"Absolutely we're getting people's best shots. We talked about that during film," UNK assistant coach Devin Eighmey said on the KRVN Radio postgame show. "We had to make adjustments today with a different lineup. We used lineups that we thought matched up well and then changed some things at half time."

Missouri Southern came in shooting 39% from the field but was on throughout the first half. They hit exactly half their shots (12 of 24; 2 of 4 threes) to lead by as many as eight. The Lions got contributions from a variety of players with senior wing Carley Turnbull scoring 12 in the first half. She came in averaging just over 14 points a night.

Backes (Salina, Kan.), making her first career after 71 games as a reserve, went on a 10-0 personal run to erase a 25-17 Southern advantage. She hit two triples and two jumpers in a two-minute span to give UNK its first big push of the afternoon. Backes finished with a team-best 21 points, tying a career-high.

"We used a lineup in the second half that gave us a little bit more ball handling and athleticism. Credit to our team … we came out punching in the third quarter," Eighmey said. "We got great contributions from people that stayed ready. That's being part of a good team; your number could get called at anytime."

While MSSU ended the quarter on a 5-0 run, UNK led most of the second half. A three-point play from junior forward Maegan Holt (Council Bluffs, Ia.) broke a 40 all tie late in the third and then UNK got huge threes from guards Trinity Law (Brandon, S.D.) and Kelsey Sanger (Crofton) in the fourth. Law's made it 48-44 with Sanger hitting hers from the opposite wing to push the Loper lead to eight at 54-46.

Junior reserve forward Madison Dreckman (Le Mars, Ia.) also provided a spark over the final 10 minutes to the tune of two buckets, two free throws, four rebounds and a presence in the lane. After that hot start MSSU was just 10 of 31 (32%) from the field in the second half and tallied only two points over a key six-minute stretch in the fourth. UNK also ended plus nine on the glass, shooting a solid 45% (22 of 49) and getting 26 bench points.

Backes reached her point total by going 6 of 11 (3 of 5 threes) from the field and 6 of 8 at the line. She also had three blocks, two rebounds, an assist and steal over 32 minutes. Backes had 21 points in the 2020 MIAA Tournament win against Missouri Western State.

"Defensively we buckled down in the second half," Eighmey said. "Madison did a great job off the bench. We're happy for Elisa for all the work she's put in. She has a high ceiling and is starting to figure it out. She's a tough matchup."

Next, Iowa redshirt sophomore forward Shiloh McCool had a strong first half (10 points & two rebounds), South Dakota junior Klaire Kirsch recorded 11 rebounds (all defensive), four points, three dimes and a steal with Law at nine points and four boards.

Turnbull hit a couple of late buckets to finish with a team-best 18 points. She also had seven rebounds and three steals. Six-three post Madi Stokes was a factor early and tallied 14 points, eight boards, two blocks and two assists.

UNK hosts Fort Hays State (9-2) Tuesday in a makeup of an originally scheduled December game. That contests tips at 5:30 p.m.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Elisa Backes

#5 Elisa Backes

G/F
6' 1"
Sophomore
Maegan Holt

#15 Maegan Holt

G/F
6' 0"
Sophomore
Klaire Kirsch

#20 Klaire Kirsch

G/F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Shiloh McCool

#25 Shiloh McCool

G/F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Kelsey Sanger

#32 Kelsey Sanger

G
5' 8"
Junior
Trinity Law

#23 Trinity Law

G
5' 9"
Freshman
Madison Dreckman

#30 Madison Dreckman

F
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Elisa Backes

#5 Elisa Backes

6' 1"
Sophomore
G/F
Maegan Holt

#15 Maegan Holt

6' 0"
Sophomore
G/F
Klaire Kirsch

#20 Klaire Kirsch

5' 11"
Sophomore
G/F
Shiloh McCool

#25 Shiloh McCool

5' 11"
Sophomore
G/F
Kelsey Sanger

#32 Kelsey Sanger

5' 8"
Junior
G
Trinity Law

#23 Trinity Law

5' 9"
Freshman
G
Madison Dreckman

#30 Madison Dreckman

6' 1"
Freshman
F