McCool Scores a Career-Best 23 as UNK Dominates in the Post
Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt junior forward Shiloh McCool scored a season-high 23 points as No. 22/24 Nebraska Kearney dominated Northwest Missouri State, 77-51, Saturday afternoon in Maryville.
The Lopers (10-2, 3-1) bounce back from a Thursday night setback while the Bearcats fall to 4-4 (0-3) and drop a seventh straight to UNK.
McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) and her fellow posts were targeted early and often as UNK jetted out to leads of 21-8 and 28-10. Northwest did get within 10 points by the end of the second quarter but then the deficit ballooned to 18 again by midway through the third as the Lopers out shot the Bearcats by a 52-36% margin.
“I thought we were highly focused today and we knew what the deal is. Our kids fought through some adversity Thursday night and they answered the bell here today,” said UNK assistant coach Devin Eighmey on the KRVN Radio postgame show.
Besting the 21 points she tallied in a 2019 win at Lindenwood, McCool made 8 of 15 shots and went 7 of 9 at the line. Next, Elkhorn senior post Brooke Carlson went for a season-best 14 on 7 of 11 shooting with Kansas super senior forward Elisa Backes at 10 points, five boards and four assists.
“We were really cohesive and did a good job of finding what was open today. Really proud of our defensive effort and got a lot of hands up balls,” said Eighmey.
The patent Kearney defense limited Northwest’s unique offense to eight points in the first quarter and just nine in the third. Sophomore guard Molly Hartnett went for 18 but the rest of the ‘Cats were a combined 13 of 39 from the field. Hartnett also drew nine fouls and had six boards but also turned the ball over five times. Besides the shooting advantage, the Lopers
had a plus six rebounding and a plus four turnover margins.
“Harnett was the MIAA Freshman of the Year and they have their whole team back. They didn’t lose one player,” said Eighmey. “They did have a couple of players out today due to injuries and illness. People don’t talk about that but that changes things.”
Also for UNK, Iowa redshirt junior point guard Sarah Schmitt went for 10 points and two assists with South Dakota senor wing Klaire Kirsch as a season-best 12 boards and four points.
The Lopers return home next Friday night (Newman) and Sunday afternoon (Central Oklahoma). The change in schedule is due to Winter Commencement.
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