Skip To Main Content

University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

2022 MIAA Basketball Championships, Kasnas City, Mo.
Matthew Hicks/MSH Photography
46
Neb.-Kearney UNK 23-7,17-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
56
Winner Fort Hays St. FHSU 27-3,19-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Neb.-Kearney UNK
23-7,17-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
46
Final
56
Fort Hays St. FHSU
27-3,19-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 17 7 12 10 46
Fort Hays St. FHSU 14 16 13 13 56

Next Game:

vs. Minnesota-Duluth

3/11/2022 | TBA.

The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Mar. 11 (Fri) / TBA.
vs. Minnesota-Duluth
History

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Hays Advances, 56-46; NCAA Show Sunday Night

Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Whitney Randall scored 21 points and fifth-ranked Fort Hays State used a couple of scoring runs to down Nebraska-Kearney, 56-46, Saturday afternoon in an MIAA Tournament semifinal game in Kansas City.

The second-seeded Tigers (27-3) take the rubber match from the Lopers (23-7) and advance to Sunday's championship game. Top-seeded Missouri Southern State rallied past upset minded Missouri Western State, 65-58, on the other side of the bracket.

UNK is in good shape to make the NCAA Tournament next weekend. The D2 Selection Show airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on www.ncaa.com. The Central Regional will either be in Hays, Weatherford, Okla. (Southwestern Oklahoma State) or Duluth, Minn. (Minnesota-Duluth). 2022 MIAA Basketball Championships, Kasnas City, Mo.

"I think we deserve to be in the tournament and are one of the best eight teams in the (Central) region. We would be extremely excited and grateful to have that opportunity," said Loper head coach Carrie Eighmey. 

Things started off well for the Lopers as they shot 58% (7 of 12) in the first quarter to grab leads of 14-7 and 17-12. Five different players scored during this stretch with wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, SD) and guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) knocking down threes. One of several Lopers to battle foul trouble this afternoon, Kirsch became UNK's all-time leader in rebounds early in the second half. She is up to 910 and bests the previous mark of 906, set by forward Heather Steffen (2001-04).

"I thought we had a great first quarter. We were able to get some offense going and did a decent job of slowing them down. Hays is a tough team to stop," said Eighmey. "We struggled in the second ... that obviously was the difference in the game. We got into a little bit of foul trouble, we got a little out of rhythm, had some people playing out-of-position and stalled out offensively." 

The Tigers took control with a 14-0 run that covered the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. Going seven minutes without scoring, UNK fell behind 26-17 before getting three buckets over the final 4:17 to trail by a 30-24 count at the break.

Another Tiger run came to start the third as they scored nine straight. Randall tallied the first seven to help her team open up a 39-25 cushion by the media timeout. The third-team All-MIAA pick ended 7 of 12 (3 of 4 3's) from the field and 3 of 4 at the line. UNK didn't go quietly, however, as they used a 15-4 spurt to get back into things. The Lopers went 5 of 6 at the line during this stretch with a jumper from forward Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.) making it 43-40 early in the fourth.

Klaire Kirsch"We battled back in the second half and really competed. Hays hit a couple of big shots late and were able to stretch it on us," said Eighmey. "I think we struggled to defend today without fouling. We had 19 fouls to their 11 and that's a pretty big disparity. They shoot it well from the free throw line and today they were 16 of 22. You've got to avoid putting them on the line."

Fittingly, a Randall triple stopped the UNK run and the Tigers led by at least four the rest of the way. The Lopers had a couple of chances to make it a one-possession game over the final six minutes but misfired on a couple of shots. They ended 16 of 52 from the floor (31%) which included a 4 of 20 effort from behind the arc. Hays made four threes as well but did so in only nine attempts. 

"They made some good adjustments defensively. They played a little bit smaller and switched everything which is something they've done before against us," said Eighmey. "We had a difficult time establishing a post presence. We're really good offensively when we can play inside-out and we weren't able to do that today." 

UNK actually was plus one the on the glass but the Tigers shot 41% from the field, made 16 free throws and got 11 defensive boards from redshirt freshman guard Katie Wagner. Post Olivia Hollenbeck was a force in the lane and ended with eight points, five boards, two blocks and two steals with reserve Lauren West and starter Jaden Hobbs at 10 points apiece.

Eight Lopers scored led by eight from guard Sarah Schmitt (Swisher, Ia.). She went 3 of 6 from the field and 2 of 4 at the line and has now tallied 29 points against the Tigers this season. Next, Backes and Kirsch both had seven points and six boards with Simental and reserve forward Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) at six points apiece. Finally, Backes was one of six Lopers with at least two fouls.

"In several of our games this year players, for whatever reason, have more success against a specific team. In those cases, we look for them to make plays and take advantage of whatever is in that particular matchup," said Eighmey. "Klaire is an extremely hard worker and to me rebounding is somebody wanting the ball more than somebody else. She has been so consistent throughout her career of owning that role."
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Elisa Backes

#5 Elisa Backes

G/F
6' 1"
Sophomore
Klaire Kirsch

#20 Klaire Kirsch

G/F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Shiloh McCool

#25 Shiloh McCool

G/F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Haley Simental

#10 Haley Simental

G
5' 8"
Graduate Student
Sarah Schmitt

#3 Sarah Schmitt

G
5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Elisa Backes

#5 Elisa Backes

6' 1"
Sophomore
G/F
Klaire Kirsch

#20 Klaire Kirsch

5' 11"
Sophomore
G/F
Shiloh McCool

#25 Shiloh McCool

5' 11"
Sophomore
G/F
Haley Simental

#10 Haley Simental

5' 8"
Graduate Student
G
Sarah Schmitt

#3 Sarah Schmitt

5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
G