The Missouri Southern Women couldn't overcome a slow start as they fell 65-50 to the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers Saturday night on Buckle Court inside the Health & Sports Center.
After shooing just 11 percent in the second half against Washburn the Lions (9-4, 3-4 MIAA) suffered through a cold first half at UNK (6-6, 2-5 MIAA) as they managed to shoot 28.6 percent (8-for-28) from the field including a 1-for-9 performance from three point range.The first quarter went back and forth as Southern tied the Lopers three times. SeniorSharese Jones tied the game at 3-3 with 8:55 to go in the first on a free throw, junior Deb Holcomb tied it at 10-10 with 4:11 to play on a jumper, and sophomore Bri Shavers tied the game at 12-12 on a post move with 2:25 to play in the quarter. UNK closed the quarter on a 4-0 run to take a 16-12 lead into the quarter break.
In the second quarter the Lopers extended their lead to 23-12 following a pair of free throws by Kennedy Sander and a three pointer and lay-up from Laramey Becker. Southern chipped away with a three pointer and a fast break jumper from freshman Chelsey Henry to cut the lead to five at 25-20 with 1:56 until intermission. UNK again answered with a 6-0 run to push their lead to 31-20 with lay-ups from Courtney Aitken and Bri Starks and a jumper from Becker.
UNK finished the half 13-for-29 from the field and led the Lions 12-10 in points in the paint, 6-5 in points off turnovers, 4-0 in second chance points, and 9-7 in bench scoring.
The third quarter started with a three pointer from Jones and a lay-up by Shavers from senior Kenya Wilson-Brown to cut the Loper lead to six, 31-25. However, UNK answered with their own 8-0 run and pushed their lead to 16 at 41-25 with 6:03 left in the quarter. A Loper jumper from Starks with 2:54 to play gave UNK their largest lead of the game at 48-30 before the Lions would cut it down to 14 off a pair of free throws by Jones and a jumper from sophomore Dru Clark. The Lopers and Southern traded buckets to end the third with freshman Desirea Buerge scoring the lone Lions goal with just over 30 seconds left in the quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the Lions get as close at 11 three times on a three pointer from Holcomb at the 8:24 mark, a jumper by Shavers with 5:10 to play, and a free throw from sophomore Jenson Maydew with 1:30 left. UNK dominated the fourth out scoring the Lions in the paint 10-6 and 7-3 on second chance points.
Jones led the Lions with 15 points and seven rebounds. Wilson-Brown pulled down six boards to go with her five assists and three points while playing all 40 minutes. UNK was led by Becker with 21 points and 10 rebounds and McKenzie Brown added 11.
The Lions will be back in action on Monday night as they travel to top ranked Fort Hays State for a 5:30 p.m. tip off from Gross Coliseum.
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