Sports
Loper men win, women lose Tuesday
Published Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 06:36 AM
UNK improves to 1-1 while Hastings falls to 3-4.
The Lopers led for most of the night but could never pull away from their long time rivals. Ahead 50-41, UNK saw the Broncos tie the score at 59 on two free throws from Scott Wissing at the 6:34 mark.
UNK responded with a 7-0 run that featured five straight points from junior wing Nick Alexander (San Jose, Calif.) and a layup from Parker. However, the Broncos got a layup from Kylor Dossett and a three from Brent McCurlin to close the Loper lead to two with just 1:03 to play.
A steal by Jeremiah Slough then allowed Hastings three chances to the game in the final 27 seconds but the Broncos missed two free throws and two field goals. But, an offensive rebound by Dosset gave Hastings one more chance.
Kearney, Neb. – Junior forward Kristin Miller scored a put back bucket as time expired to lift Concordia University to a 88-87 win over Nebraska-Kearney Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
Ranked 7th in NAIA Division II, the Bulldogs improve to 5-1 while the Lopers, ranked 25th in NCAA Division II, fall to 1-1. This marks UNK’s first home loss to an NAIA team since Hastings beat the Lopers 96-91 during the 1992-93 season.
After leading most of the night, UNK found itself down 82-75 with 3:01 left to play. Some late heroics by Elm Creek, senior Jade Meads – five points, three steals and two offensive rebounds – helped the Lopers trailed 86-85 by the 47 second mark.
Meads second offensive rebounds helped UNK keep the ball and that led to a made layup by junior post Megan Becker (Beaver City) with 17 seconds to go.
Concordia then called timeout to set up a final play. A UNK trap forced the Bulldogs to get the ball into the corner where TaLisa Krejci (26 points) fired up a three point shot with seconds left.
The shot was short but the ball managed to get through the Lopres hands and right into the hands of a crashing Miller. The Missouri native then scored her only points of the night on a layup as the buzzer sounded.
In a run and gun game, UNK out shot (46.5 to 43.1 percent) and out rebounded (45-41) Concordia but the Bulldogs sunk seven more three point shots then the Lopers, 9-2.
Kejci, a junior from Exeter-Milligan, made 9 of 11 shots in the first half to score 20 of her points. Senior guard Whitney Sitchka, a 5-9 senior from Deshler, then carried the load for Concordia in the second half, scoring 22 of her game-high 33 points.
She finished 11 of 16 from the field (5 of 6 threes) and 6 of 7 at the line.
Also for the ‘Dawgs, Kearney native Melissa Tinkham caught fire late and finished with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
UNK also had some big efforts as Meads went for 30 points and 13 rebounds. Her fifth career double double, she was 12 of 28 from the field and managed to grab a game-high seven offensive rebounds.
The 30 points is just three of Meads career-high, set three years ago in a loss at Metro State. She also had five steals and four assists tonight.
Becker had a career-high 24 points on 11 of 17 shooting. The Southern Valley graduate also pulled down seven rebounds in 34 minutes played.
Before fouling out, Colorado senior Jonni Mildenberger had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds. Finally, Dorchester senior Tana Nelsen came off the bench and had five points and two assists.
UNK has two tough games in the coming week, playing at Fort Hays State Saturday and then going to Wayne State next Monday. The Lopers are just 4-8 in their last 12 trips to Hays’ Gross Memorial Coliseum.
After a 20-second timeout, the Broncos in bounded the ball and some tough UNK defense forced Hastings to get the ball to Waid Vontz, who was a couple of feet beyond the three point line. His long range shot missed and Hastings couldn’t grab another offensive rebound.
Thanks to the 6-10, 235 lbs. Parker (Lincoln), UNK shot 50 percent from the field and out scored Hastings 36-24 in the paint.
The Broncos did win the battle on the glass, 39-36, including an 18-8 edge in offensive caroms. However, Hastings out scored the Lopers by just three, 14-11, on second chance points.
Parker finished the night 11 of 17 of the field and with eight defensive rebounds. He had 13 points in the second half with his final point tally just one shy of his career high.
Also for UNK, Ravenna junior forward Drake Beranek had 10 of his 18 points in the second half with Alexander scoring eight of his 10 points after halftime. The Lopers led 35-34 at the break and only Parker, Beranek and Alexander scored over the final 20 minutes.
Hastings got 19 points from Wissing and 10 points from McNurlin. Vontz, who played at UNK during the 2006-07 season, finished with seven points and three assists. He came into the game averaging over 20 points on the young season.
UNK has two tough road games up next, a Saturday title at Fort Hays State and then a trip to Wayne State next Monday.
© 2008 The Nebraska Rural Radio Association. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- © 2008 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.