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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

UNK WBB
Ft. Hays State Athletics
58
Minn.-Crookston UMC 0-1
74
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 1-0
Minn.-Crookston UMC
0-1
58
Final
74
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Minn.-Crookston UMC 12 19 13 14 58
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 20 24 12 18 74

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

13 3's and 13 2's Equal Season-Opening Win

Kearney, Neb – The 15th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team sunk 13 three pointers and got a double double from junior Klaire Kirsch to beat Minnesota-Crookston, 74-58, Friday night in Maryville, Mo.

This was opening night for the Lopers and Golden Eagles from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf. (NSIC). UNK faces Southwest Minnesota State Saturday at 5:30 p.m. SMSU faced Northwest Missouri in the late game on Friday.

The Lopers trailed for only 15 seconds all night and by as many as 17 points. However, UMC made things a little bit interesting thanks to a 15-2 run encompassing the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. That sliced the UNK lead to 58-54 with the spurt featuring two Golden Eagle triples and eight missed shots by the Lopers.

However, a veteran Kearney team responded and built its lead back to double digits, 66-56, by the 6:57 mark. Kansas junior forward Elisa Backes, making her third career start, hit a shot in the lane to begin the mini-run with Iowa junior forward Maegan Holt knocking down one of her two triples on the night.

Crookston, who ended up 9 of 31 (29%) inside the arc, didn't get closer than 11 the rest of the way. UNK out shot UMC from the field, 41-34%, and the line, 82-67%, while getting at least two threes from all five starters. UNK ended up 13 of 33 from downtown and 13 of 29 from two-point land. 

Kirsch (Rapid City, SD) had a team-high 16 points thanks to 6 of 8 (3 of 4 threes) shooting. She grabbed 10 rebounds, nine on the defensive end, and also had six steals. This marks her 11th career double double. Next, sophomore guard Trinity Law (Brandon, SD) tallied a career-best 15 points thanks to three triples and 4 of 4 free throw shooting. In her third career start she had 12 points after the break.

Inside, Backes (Salina, Kan.) was limited to 18 minutes because of foul trouble but still had 14 points, six boards and two dimes. Off the bench, Iowa newcomer and guard Sarah Schmitt had seven points, three assists and drew two fouls with Elkhorn post Brooke Carlson, working her way back from injury, at five rebounds, three assists, block and steal. Finally, Colorado graduate poing guard Haley Simental had all 13 of her points in the second quarter. 

Forward Mary Burke was one of three Golden Eagle starters in double digits, going for 12 on 4 of 6 three point shooting.
 
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