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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Shiloh McCool
Corbey R. Dorsey
49
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 7-1,2-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
43
Washburn Wash 1-6,0-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
7-1,2-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
49
Final
43
Washburn Wash
1-6,0-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 16 10 10 13 49
Washburn Wash 11 16 7 9 43

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

UNK Grinds One Out in Topeka, 49-43

Kearney, Neb. – Junior forward Shiloh McCool had a third straight double double, point guard Haley Simental tallied 14 and No. 20/21 Nebraska-Kearney used a late 6-0 run to edge Washburn, 49-43, Saturday afternoon in Topeka.

The Lopers (7-1) start the MIAA year 2-0 while the Ichabods fall to 1-6 (0-2) and 0-5 at home. UNK has also taken five of the last six against WU.

The 'Bods came in struggling on offense, averaging 57 points on 38% field goal shooting (25% from behind the arc). Today they slowed the tempo down, overcame a 21-13 second quarter deficit and held a slim lead through much of the third quarter.

"We figured they would make some lineup changes and they did. They are a good team and just figuring things out a bit," said UNK assistant coach Devin Eighmey on the KRVN radio post-game show. "We found a way … fought through some fatigue and guarded. Possessions were low in this game."

Still minus starting wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, S.D.) and reserve point guard Sarah Schmitt (Swisher, Ia.) due to injury, UNK finally got control of things midway through the fourth. Junior post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn) rebounded her own miss and scored inside, erasing a 37-36 deficit with 5:37 remaining. The Lopers wouldn't trail again as McCool scored after a 'Bods shot clock violation and then tallied a layup after a media timeout. That made it 42-37 and UNK led by at least three points over the final three minutes.

"I thought we got some good minutes from our bench. We were a little tired but our team is mentally though," said Eighmey.

McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) had six of her 11 points and six of her 11 rebounds in the second half. She is averaging 13 points and 13 rebounds over the last three games and is shooting 61% on the season. Next, Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) hit two of UNK's three triples to reach double figures for a second straight game with four others between five and eight points. That group included Carlson who got close to a double double (eight points & seven boards).

Both teams made 17 field goals and shot below 39% with UNK being plus six on the glass and tallying eight second chance points.

"It's not always about offense. Defense is a staple we try to have in this program," said Eighmey.

WU, tallying just 16 in the second half, saw eight different players score with none tallying more than nine. Guard Hunter Bentley had six of her team-best nine in the first half with reserve Nuria Barrientos at seven points and five boards.

The Lopers have just one game next week, a Saturday afternoon date with the No. 2 and rival Fort Hays State Tigers.
 
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