UNK's 14th NCAA Appearance a Dozen Years in the Making

Women's Basketball 3/12/2021 3:33:00 AM

UNK's 14th NCAA Appearance a Dozen Years in the Making

Kearney, Neb. – The now ninth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team is in some uncharted territory this weekend as it takes part in the 2021 NCAA Division II Tournament in Warrensburg, Mo.

Winning the 2021 MIAA Tournament title this past Sunday, the second-seeded Lopers (22-3) are in the NCAA's for a 14th time but for the first time in a dozen years. The five other teams in the field – top-seed Fort Hays State, third-seed Minnesota-Duluth, fourth-seed Central Missouri, fifth-seed St. Cloud State, and sixth-seed Emporia State – each made last year's Central Regional but that was suddenly canceled due to the on-going pandemic.

The NCAA went to predetermined sites this year with UCM selected as the Central Regional hosts last month. They also earned the right to host in 2020. The tournament begins Friday (6/8:45 p.m.), continues Saturday (5/7:45 p.m.) and concludes Monday (6 p.m.). The winner advances to the Elite 8 March 23-26 in Columbus, Ohio.

As with all NCAA D2 Winter Championships this year, the field was cut by 25 percent with each student-athlete, coach and staff members going through a series of COVID tests before they can compete or even enter the venue. With the reduction in teams, the top two seeds in each region receive first round byes. Madison Dreckman

All games will be carried live on The River KRVN 93.1 FM with a free video live stream provided by UCM and the NCAA.

UNK faced Emporia State (18-6) in the first game of the year while being 0-2 all-time against the UMD Bulldogs (13-1) of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. On Friday, UMD rallied from a 10-point deficit with less than two minutes remaining to down the Hornets in overtime, 76-70.

UMD, making its 13th all-time NCAA appearance, won the 2021 NSIC regular season and tournament titles and are an impressive 63-14 since the start of the year 2018-19 season.

Six-two junior forward Brooke Olson was tabbed the North Division Player of the Year as she averages a healthy 20.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Shooting 53% from the field and 87 from the line, Olson has already gone over 1,000 career points. Against the Hornets she went for 31 and 14 on 13 of 23 shooting (4 of 8 threes).

The 'Dogs also had two second-team North Division picks this year in 5-7 senior guard Ann Simonet (9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) and 6-2 senior post Sarah Grow (9.2 points, 6.1 rebounds & 2.0 blocks). UMD has a solid plus 3.3 turnover margin and holds teams to 59 points a night. Finally, its lone loss was a 60-49 home setback to St. Cloud back on February 19.

UNK's two losses to UMD both came in the NCAA's and both came in Grand Forks, N.D.; 61-57 in 2001 and 66-65 in overtime in 1999.

UNK in the NCAA Tournament (6-13)
2009 (at Mankato, Minn.)
vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead L, 65-54

2008 (at Vermillion, S.D.)
vs. Fort (Colo.) Lewis W, 66-58
at South Dakota L, 59-48

2007 (at Grand Forks, N.D.) – regional finalists
vs. Augustana W, 75-68
vs. Concordia-St. Paul W, 92-89 (OT)
at North Dakota L, 108-75

2004 (at St. Paul, Minn.)
vs. South Dakota State L, 67-56

2003 (at Brookings, S.D.)
vs. North Dakota State L, 76-69

2002 (at Grand Junction, Colo.)
vs. Southwest Minnesota State L, 67-57

2001 (at Grand Forks, N.D.)
vs. Minnesota-Duluth L, 61-57

2000 (at Fargo, N.D.)
vs. Northern Colorado L, 81-79

1999 (at Grand Forks, N.D.)
vs. Minnesota-Duluth L, 66-65 (OT)

1998 (at Grand Forks, N.D.) – regional finalists
vs. Northern State W, 81-78 (OT)
at North Dakota L, 79-68

1997 (at Fargo, N.D.)
vs. Northern Colorado W, 82-76 (OT)
at North Dakota State L, 76-65

1996 (at Abilene, Texas)
vs. Missouri S&T W, 83-60
at Abilene (Texas) Christian L, 81-58

1994 (at Brookings, S.D.) **
at South Dakota State L, 81-68
** play in game for NCAA's not recognized as an official tourney contest

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