UNK Uses Balanced Attack to Beat Washburn

Kearney, Neb. – Senior Samantha Moore had seven fourth quarter points, and four others scored in double figures, to help Nebraska Kearney fight off Washburn, 66-61, Thursday night at Buckle Court.

This was the MIAA opener for both squads with the rematch set for February 1 in Topeka. That'll be the MIAA Game of the Week on 38 the Spot.

Washburn (4-5) came in minus starting post Yibari Nwidadah (17.4 points & 7.8 rebounds per game) and starting guard Madelyn Amekporfor (7.1 ppg & 3.5 rog). Thus, they changed the game plan, used a different rotation and rode junior transfer guard Payton Sterk (game-high 31 points). She averaged 18.5 last year for Division II Cal State East Bay.

"I felt like by the end of the second quarter we didn't play with enough confidence. They had two starters out, so they walked in with a different game plan than maybe we were expecting and ready for," said Loper head coach Drew Johnson. "Our game plan defensively then had to morph pretty quickly."

UNK led 17-12 after the opening quarter but it could've been a much bigger advantage as they were just 7 of 20 from the field. The 'Bods tied things up at the half as they made five more field goals in the second. The momentum then went back to the Lopers as they held two nine-point leads in the third quarter. The last was at 49-40 after a layup by sophomore reserve post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.).

"I thought we did a good job in the second half of play with confidence and getting ready to knock down shots," said Johnson. "The box score said we led for 32 minutes but it didn't necessarily feel like that especially with the run they made in the fourth."

It was 52-43 early in the fourth when WU went on a 12-3 run to tie things up for the seventh and final time. Sterk hit one of her five threes during this stretch with freshman guard Brooke Gomez adding four points.

A Moore (Mullen) three at the 4:17 mark gave UNK the lead back, one they wouldn't relinquish. Junior point guard Jillian Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) followed with a jumper to make it 60-55 and WU didn't get closer than two the rest of the way. Strek could've made it 61-60 with just over two minutes left but misfired on a three; Moore followed with a layup and Aschoff went 3 of 4 at the line to close things out.

Aschoff had six of her team-best 13 points in the fourth and got close to a triple double (eight rebounds and seven assists). Next, Lincoln sophomore wing Brinly Christensen knocked down four threes to score 12, Sobczak made four shots and two freebies to score 10 with Kansas sophomore reserve Jordan Sears making 5 of 6 freebies to score 12. Finally, Sobczak had seven rebounds (six offensive) with Moore at nine points.

"We really believe we have a deep bench. It's one thing to say oh we're going to play nine or 10; it’s another thing to rely on and trust number nine or 10 or whatever number they are, to come in and preform," said Johnson.

For Washburn, Sterk was 11 of 21 (5 of 8 threes) from the field and 4 of 4 at the line. She also had four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 37 minutes. Seven others were between one and nine points with Gomez close to a double double (eight rebounds, six points).

UNK hosts Central Missouri on Saturday afternoon. The Jennies (7-4) fell tonight at nationally ranked Fort Hays State, 74-44.