Lopers Top Seed in Next Weekend’s MIAA Tourney
Kearney, Neb. – The seventh-ranked Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team sunk 11 three pointers and was plus 27 on the glass to blast rival Fort Hays State, 64-48, in the regular season finale Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center. The Lopers (27-3, 20-2) win the 2023 MIAA regular season title outright and earn the top-seed in next weekend's 10-team league tourney in Kansas City. UNK will play on Thursday night at 6 p.m. against either Northwest Missouri or Newman. It was a memorable day at Buckle Court as the win streak grew to 14 in a row, the home court streak ballooned to 19 in a row and the super senior class of Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.), Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn), Maegan Holt (Council Bluffs, Ia.) and Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, Ia.) was honored post-game. Classmate Shiloh McCool will be back in 2024 as she missed the sophomore season due to injury. "This was a pretty good day. Most of our games with Hays have come down to one possession so it's a little nice to have a game with some breathing room," said UNK head coach Carrie Eighmey. "Our team played great today. We were really, really good defensively and offensively we had some good stretches." McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) showed UNK's grit and determination today as she set a new UNK single game rebound record with 19 (nine offensive, 10 defense). Heather Steffen (2003) and Julie Volquardson (1985) had held the mark with 18 apiece. The Lopers amassed a 17-5 advantage on the o-boards which led to 19 second chance points. "Seventeen offensive rebounds gives you a chance to win a game with that many extra possessions," said Eighmey. "Shiloh is consistent and hammers the offensive glass. There was a couple today where she had to go and get in traffic. That doesn't surprise or shock me." Hays (19-11, 14-8), ranked 10th in the region, hung around until a three-point barrage in the third quarter. A three from Iowa redshirt sophomore Meg Burns made it 44-34 and then she sunk another two minutes later to make it 49-36. A McCool o-board then led to another Burns triple and it suddenly was 52-36. The Tigers didn't get closer than 11 the rest of the way. "That run put us over the top. We hit a few shots, a couple in transition, and they got us going," said Eighmey. "We made 11 threes today so that helped a little bit too." McCool also had 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting record her 19th career double double with Burns (18) tying her career-high point total. She's now been in double digits in five of the last eight games. Next, Kirsch (nine rebounds, six points) flirted with her 24th career double double with point guard Sarah Schmitt (nine assists, seven points) close to one as well. Finally, Backes worked around early foul trouble to be at eight points, six boards and two blocks. "It's hard not to get emotional when you talk about our seniors. They are just a special group and have helped change the trajectory of our program," said Eighmey. "They are such high-character people, great leaders, fierce competitors. I love them to death and they've become our family." Hays was paced by post Olivia Hollenbeck (13 points, five rebounds) and Kate Wagner (12 points, four boards).
Comments