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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Trinity Law
Corbey R. Dorsey
59
Neb.-Kearney UNK 19-6,14-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
65
Winner Central Mo. CentMo 17-9,13-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Neb.-Kearney UNK
19-6,14-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
59
Final
65
Central Mo. CentMo
17-9,13-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 14 14 10 21 59
Central Mo. CentMo 13 14 23 15 65

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Jennies Slip Past the Lopers Again

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt freshman forward Brooke Litterell recorded 31 points and 13 rebounds to help Central Missouri get past Nebraska-Kearney, 65-59, Thursday night in Warrensburg.

The defending Central Region Champions improve to 17-9 (13-6) and take the season series from the Lopers (19-6, 4-5). UNK is 2-12 all-time vs. UCM with the most recent NCAA Central Region Rankings having the Lopers ninth and the Mules 10th. The top eight teams make the NCAA Tournament next month.

"I thought we battled back but the third quarter is what got us. We should've been up at half a little bit more at halftime," said UNK head coach Devin Eighmey on the KRVN radio post-game show. "

Littrell had 22 points and 18 rebounds in the Jennies 58-52 win over UNK back in January. Tonight, she went 11 of 11 at the line and sunk nine field goals including two  threes in the third quarter. UCM had jumped out to an 11-4 lead, only to trail 14-13 at the end of one and 28-27 at the half. Littrell's two threes were part of a 23-10 third quarter that saw UCM make 67% of its shots (8 of 12; 3 of 5 3's).

"They went on that huge run (in the third) and we got a little fatigued," said Eighmey. "The issue was they hit threes again. When they hit three treys there in the third and you get down 12 … we're not scoring it and you've got to get stops."

UNK trailed 50-38 early in the fourth but went on a 14-4 run to make it a one-possession game with four minuets left. A bucket by reserve guard Ali Vigil put UCM up by four again and they led by at least three the rest of the way. The Lopers had a chance to knot things up at 60 but a three from the top of the key by junior forward Elisa Backes (Salina, Kans.) rimmed off with 39 seconds remaining and the Jennies grabbed the rebound. They finished 15 of 15 at the line and shot 47% overall; UNK made 4 of 7 freebies and made 44% (24 of 55) of its shots.

"It's the little things. We battled back and had a great look (to tie it) but it shouldn't have come down to that. We had empty possession in the third and missed free throws again," said Eighmey. "It's a tough one to swallow."

Besides Littrell, five other Jennies scored including senior post Nija Collier (10 points & eight boards) and starting guard Kate Hackerott (nine points). UNK got a big game from reserve junior post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn). She tallied 18 points, seven boards, three assists and got Collier into foul trouble. Next, reserve guard Trinity Law (Brandon, SD) hit two second half threes to score seven with three others between nine and 11 points. That trio included Backes.

UNK heads to Lincoln (5-20, 1-18) on Saturday afternoon.
 
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