Rogers State RSU 7-12, 4-6 MIAA

Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 11-10, 4-6 MIAA

Rogers State RSU

7-12, 4-6 MIAA

Final

Jan. 24, 2026

Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB

11-10, 4-6 MIAA

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Rogers State RSU	21	15	29	18	83
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB	21	18	17	19	75

Summary
Box Score

Todd Gottula

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 1/24/2026 6:44:00 PM

Hot Hillcats Take Lone Game with the Lopers, 83-75

Kearney, Neb. – The Rogers State Hillcats shot 54 percent from the field and had four starters score in double figures to beat Nebraska Kearney, 83-75, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the only meeting between RSU (7-12, 4-6) and UNK (11-10, 4-6) this year with the 'Cats picking up their first-ever win in the series (1-9).

Rogers came at the bottom of the MIAA in scoring (59.4 ppg), field goal percentage (.362) and three-point percentage (.256) but flipped the script today to tie their season high point total. The 'Cats made 31 of 57 shots (9 of 21 threes) and used a balanced attack to overcome seven missed free throws and a minus eight rebound margin.

"The made a bunch of shots and we backed down to them. Credit to Rogers; I thought they made an adjustment to their starting lineup and had a mode that they were going to try and get downhill at us and we backed down," said Loper head coach Drew Johnson.

Things were tied at 21 after quarter one with UNK leading by three at the break. A 15-4 quarter closing run featured five points from junior post Tara Biocanin (Serbia) and two buckets from sophomore reserve forward Paige Horne (Scottsbluff). However, RSU shot 73% (11 of 15) in the third quarter to zoom ahead by nine. The 29-point explosion featured 6 of 8 three-point shooting and buckets to start and end the quarter.

"If we can't run the scout better, it's going to be a long second half for us. We're at that time of the year where everybody knows what you do, so they are going to take us out of some stuff. We've got to be able to do the same," said Johnson.

Any chance of a Loper comeback was thwarted by an 8 of 17 effort at the line in the second half. UNK whittled a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to five with two minutes to go, but better work at the line earlier would've made it a lead or tied the game. RSU closed things out as senior Ella Hafer converted a three-point play, and sophomore Kate Melton made a layup.

"It's not like there's no positives. We had 17 offensive rebounds, we still scored a bunch of points in the paint, 21 second chance points," Johnson. "But you can't let people punch and not punch back."

Senior point guard Jillian Aschoff (Lincon Pius X) had her fourth double double of the year (17 points, 14 rebounds) with her carom total tying a career-high and being five off the record. Next, Biocanin had 14 points and seven rebounds with freshman Myleigh Weers (Diller) hitting two late threes to have 13. Finally, Horne and redshirt freshman guard Emma Rowan (Magnolia, Texas) combined for 12 points and eight boards.

For the Hillcats, Hafer went for a game-high 20 thanks to a 7 of 10 effort from the field (2 of 2 threes) and by going 4 for 4 at the line. Finally, senior guard Samantha Shanks got close to a double double (14 points, eight rebounds).

UNK hosts Central Missouri (14-5, 8-2) and Washburn (14-5, 7-3) next weekend.

Print Friendly Version