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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Jill Aschoff
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
54
Winner Mo. Southern St. MSSUWBB 17-12, 9-8 MIAA
51
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 19-7, 12-5 MIAA
Winner
Mo. Southern St. MSSUWBB
17-12, 9-8 MIAA
54
Final
51
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB
19-7, 12-5 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Mo. Southern St. MSSUWBB 13 10 20 11 54
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 12 15 14 10 51

Next Game:

at Fort Hays State

2/26/2025 | 5:30 p.m. (Game moved from 1/7/25)

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Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 26 (Wed) / 5:30 p.m. (Game moved from 1/7/25)
at Fort Hays State
History

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Late Shots Don't Fall as Lions Grind Out 54-51 Win

Kearney, Neb. – The Missouri Southern State Lions grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and had three score in double figures to edge Nebraska Kearney, 54-51, Saturday evening at the Health & Sports Center.

MSSU (17-12, 9-8) beats UNK (19-7, 12-5) for the fourth straight time and takes the only meeting between the two this season.

It was a rock fight for much of the afternoon as both teams shot below 31 percent in the first half and combined to commit 11 turnovers. The Lopers somehow managed a 27-23 lead at the break as point guard Jillian Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) hit two late free throws and three. In a game where neither team led by more than six points, MSSU broke the 10th tie of the afternoon on a jumper from junior reserve Venoce Powell. That made it 43-41 at the end of the third quarter and the Lions didn't trail again.

"They are going to hear over and over this week that we got out toughed twice," said UNK head coach Drew Johnson. "In February and March, the tougher team is always going to win. The less timid team, the team that is more aggressive is going to win. And that was not us twice this week."

An Aschoff layup with 50 seconds remaining cut into a 53-49 deficit and then the Lions missed a three. They had fouls to give and committed two to work the clock down. They tried for a third, but the officials said senior Samantha Moore (Mullen) was fouled in the acting of shooting along the baseline. However, she missed two free throws with seven seconds left.

UNK still had a chance to force OT as Powell went 1 of 2 at the line with three seconds remaining. After a timeout, Moore got open from the deep wing but her three didn't fall as time expired.

"We tried to get the ball in on a down screen to Sam. She ended up catching it pretty high; the idea was try to get that thing in, get a loop from Meg coming off it and see if they mess up and get an easy one," said Johnson. "That didn't happen, and Sam is probably the best on the team, off the dribble, at being able to get a shot off."

MSSU's board work resulted in 10 second chance points with starters Kennady Roach and Reese Webb grabbing five o-boards apiece. Overall, the Lions were plus eight on the glass; fifth-ranked Pittsburg State was plus nine to win Thursday night at Buckle Court.

Six-three sophomore center Ryan Franklin (13) led in scoring with Powell (11) going 4 of 7 from the field and 3 of 4 at the line. Finally, freshman guard Grace Frazier had 10 points and four assists.

UNK out shot MSSU by a 37-32% margin but made three fewer free throws, took 11 fewer shots and was just 4 of 21 from behind the arc

"Great basketball teams don't get their Saturday performance off their Thursday performance. We want to consider ourselves a great basketball team," said Johnson. "We've got to find a way that Saturday isn't dictated by what happened Thursday. We had moments today but still not aggressive enough in one-on-one situations."

Aschoff (14) and Moore (10) were in double digits with Aschoff at a team-best nine rebounds and Moore at a team-best five assists. Next, sophomore forward Brinly Christensen (Lincoln) hit two threes with junior reserve guard Saniya Simmons (Olathe, Kan.) at six points, three dimes and two boards. Finally, sophomore reserve post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) made 4 of 5 shots to score nine.

UNK heads to seventh-ranked Fort Hays State (24-2, 15-2) Wednesday night. This is the makeup of a game that was postponed mid-January due to weather.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jillian Aschoff

#22 Jillian Aschoff

G
5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Brinly Christensen

#20 Brinly Christensen

F
6' 0"
Sophomore
Samantha Moore

#12 Samantha Moore

G/F
6' 0"
Senior
Bailee Sobczak

#44 Bailee Sobczak

F
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Saniya Simmons

#1 Saniya Simmons

G
5' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jillian Aschoff

#22 Jillian Aschoff

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
G
Brinly Christensen

#20 Brinly Christensen

6' 0"
Sophomore
F
Samantha Moore

#12 Samantha Moore

6' 0"
Senior
G/F
Bailee Sobczak

#44 Bailee Sobczak

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Saniya Simmons

#1 Saniya Simmons

5' 2"
Junior
G