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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Betty Backes
Corbey R. Dorsey
58
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 16-3,11-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
46
Northeastern St. NE 4-13,2-9 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNK
16-3,11-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
58
Final
46
Northeastern St. NE
4-13,2-9 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 12 18 13 15 58
Northeastern St. NE 8 13 16 9 46

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

UNK Shuts Down NSU

Kearney, Neb. – Three starters scored in double figures and Nebraska-Kearney simply shut down Northeastern State, 71-49, Thursday evening at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers move to 18-5 (13-4) to remain in a logjam at the top of the MIAA standings. After tonight's action UNK is in third place, right behind Missouri Southern and Fort Hays (both 14-3) and ahead of Missouri Western (12-4). MWSU visits Kearney in two weeks. 

NSU (5-18, 3-14) was coming off a stunning 67-58 win over Hays Monday afternoon in Tahlequah. They led that game by as many as 20 points but could do little tonight against one of the nation's top defensive units. The RiverHawks made just 6 of its first 26 shots to fall behind 13-5 and 34-17. UNK led by as 29 points with NSU finally warming up a bit (7 of 14) in the final quarter.

"Getting off to a good start, on both ends of the floor, is something we've talked a lot about. We've had plenty of games where defensively we hold teams to single digits in the first quarter," said UNK head coach Carrie Eighmey. "But offensively it was important for us to execute and get some good looks at the basket."

The Lopers dominated inside to the tune of a 44-26 advantage in paint points and also went to the line 26 times. Kearney shot 47 percent (25 of 53) overall to have its highest point total since January 20.

"We almost doubled them up in the paint which is really, really good. A lot of those were post touches but we also were able to get into transition and get some effective drives," said Eighmey.

Junior forward Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.) had a game-high 18 points as she went 4 of 4 at the line and 6 of 11 from the field. She made two of the team's three treys and also had five assists and five boards. Next, forward Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) had 13 points and seven rebounds with wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, SD) at 10 points, eight boards (three offensive), three dimes and three steals. Finally, guard Sarah Schmitt (Swisher, Ia.) had nine points, six rebounds (four offensive) and two assists in her second Loper start.

"The (new lineup) is going well. We're comfortable with a lot of players … honestly for us its not a huge deal. We were just trying to create a little bit more offense and today we were able to do that," said Eighmey. "It hasn't been disruptive and that's one thing we wanted to avoid."

NSU got scoring from nine different players with D1 transfer Maleeah Langstaff at a team-high 15. She also had six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Rogers State (10-14, 6-12) lost at Hays tonight, 78-49, and comes to Buckle Court on Saturday afternoon.
 
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