The No. 12/12 Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team looks to rebound this week and sweep the season series from both Central Oklahoma and Newman.
Back in mid-December UNK (12-2) won in both Wichita, 53-47, and Edmond, 63-43. Those are two of the five games in which a Loper opponent has failed to reach 50 points; Kearney is currently third in NCAA Division II in scoring defense (50.6).
Tip-time against the Bronchos (9-4) is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday against the Jets (3-11). Those not in attendance can catch the action via The MIAA Network or on KRVN radio (93.1 FM/106.9 FM). Live stats are available as well.
UCO has won seven of eight to move into fifth place in the MIAA standings. The ‘Chos are 3-2 away from Edmond and are coming off home wins over Emporia State, 77-70, and Washburn, 74-73. That pushed its mark to 6-2 in games decided by 10 points or less.
Six-three senior post Kelsey Johnson is among the MIAA’s elite players, averaging 20.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 assists per game. Shooting 59% from the field and 82% at the line, she began her career at Division I Texas-Arlington. In three career games against UNK Johnson averages 18 points and six boards with a lone block.
No other UCO player averages in double digits but four are between 6.3-9.6. After that December result the all-time series is tied at nine apiece.
Newman has lost five in a row and nine of 10. They are 1-4 away from home and averaging 53 points nightly. They do allow just 62 points per game to rank sixth in the MIAA in scoring defense.
Five-eight senior guard Brooke Haney (11.2) and six-foot junior Faith Mason-Vestal (10.9) combine for 22 points a night with Haney also leading the Jets in made threes (22). The pair also shoot well over 80% from the line, helping NU make 75% as a team. Guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) had a season-high 18 points thanks to four made threes in the first go around with the Jets. A 17-9 advantage in the third quarter helped UNK keep NU at bay.
UNK shot an even 50% from the field in Saturday’s loss at Fort Hays, the second time this year the Lopers made half its field goals (at Central Missouri). Kearney also has made at least 70% of its free throws in two of the last three games. Kansas junior forward Elisa Backes (10.4) and Elkhorn junior post Brooke Carlson (8.4) are 1-2 in points per game. Backes had 14 on Saturday, her seventh double digit of the year, while Carlson went for a team-high 16. That is her second best output of the winter. Both shoot at least 45% from the field on the year and pull down five boards a night.
In the backcourt South Dakota junior Klaire Kirsch is currently third in the MIAA in rebounds (9.6 per game), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) and eighth in steals per game (1.8). Finally, she has logged a team-best 422 minutes.
The Lopers head to Tahlequah, Okla., (Northeastern State) and Claremore, Okla. (Rogers State) next weekend.
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