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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Shiloh McCool
Corbey R. Dorsey
59
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 6-1,1-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
58
Emporia St. ESU 5-2,0-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
6-1,1-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
59
Final
58
Emporia St. ESU
5-2,0-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 10 19 14 16 59
Emporia St. ESU 16 17 13 12 58

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Ranked Lopers Rally Late to Sting Ranked Emporia, 59-58

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt junior post Brooke Carlson made a layup with 22 seconds left and No. 21/20 Nebraska-Kearney made two late defensive stops to rally past No. 26/18 Emporia State, 59-58, Thursday night in Kansas.

This was the MIAA opener for both teams. UNK (6-1) wins at White Auditorium for the second time in three trips while the Hornets (5-2) see a modest two-game win streak come to an end.

The Lopers led for just 1:56 on the night but never let the deficit get bigger than 10 points. Down 57-49 with 5:07 left, UNK started a 10-1 closing run with a shot in the lane from junior forward Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.). The Lopers leading scorer on the year was limited to just 19 minutes tonight because of foul trouble.

Emporia missed its last five shots as UNK cranked up the defense. Back-to-back threes from point guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) tied things at 57 by the 56 second mark; it was the second and final tie of the game. The Hornets made 1 of 2 freebies 10 seconds later with Carlson's game winner coming after a Loper timeout and off a pass from Simental.

Carlson (Elkhorn) was fouled on the play and missed the subsequent free throw. However, ESU star Tre'Zure Jobe saw her jumper with eight seconds left hit iron and Carlson was there to grab the rebound. The Hornets then were forced to foul several times with Simental finally going to the line with just three ticks left. While she missed both, the defense was strong again. Backes first tipped an inbounds pass, taking some more time off the clock. Finally, ESU got the ball in with junior Karsen Schultz getting off a contested and deep 25-footer the fell well short of the rim.  

The Lopers overcame a 11 of 22 effort at the line by getting 22 bench points and out scoring ESU inside by a 22-18 margin. Also down 9-0 right off the bat, UNK scored 19 in the second quarter to not only erase that early deficit but also grab a brief lead.

Carlson finished with a game-high 19 points thanks to seven freebies and six buckets. In 24 minutes off the bench she also grabbed a eight boards (seven defensive) and drew 10 fouls. Next, junior forward Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) record another double, this time going for 15 points and a career-best 16 boards (10 defensive). That total is two off the school-record, shared by Heather Steffen (2003) and Julie Volquardson (1985). Finally, Simental knocked down four threes to score 12 with Backes at seven boards and four points.

As usual Jobe paced Emporia to the tune of 20 points, three rebounds and two assists with five others between five and eight points. That group included forward Emily Weathers (seven points & 10 rebounds).

UNK heads to Washburn on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods fell to 1-5 after a 72-50 setback to 2nd-ranked Fort Hays State on Wednesday. 
 
 
 
 
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