UNK Women Fall To #5 Pittsburg State 81-74

Kearney, Neb. – Seniors Karenna Gerber and Grace Pyle combined for 49 points and fifth-ranked Pittsburg State used a big fourth quarter to down Nebraska Kearney, 81-74, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the only meeting between the Gorillas (24-2, 16-0) and Lopers (19-6, 12-4) this season. Pitt has won the last four games in the series and hands UNK its first home loss of the winter (10-1).

The Gorillas came in averaging 80 points in league contests and reached that figure tonight thanks to 59% shooting (32 of 54) from the field and a 9 of 11 effort from the line. They sank eight threes, were plus nine on the glass and had big runs to start the first, third and fourth quarters.

"They are really good, and it was a game of runs. They had the first one in the first half, but we found a way to come back and then they made first one in the second half and we found a way to come back," said UNK head coach Drew Johnson. "When they make the first one in the fourth quarter, it's a short game at the at point. Now you have to try a scramble, trap and foul."

Pyle has haunted UNK throughout her career and finished with 25 points on six threes. Battling first half foul trouble, Gerber made up for lost time by going 11 of 11 from the field to score 24. In the fourth quarter, she rebounded Pitt's only miss in 12 attempts and recorded a putback bucket.

"Credit to Pitt. They are really talented offensively and undefeated in the league for a reason. That was fun matchup and we had an awesome crowd tonight. We had a student section that was into it," said Johnson. "Great time to be in the hunt and playing big-time basketball.”

UNK withstood an early 11-4 hole to lead throughout the second quarter and at the break. The Lopers shot 56% in the second quarter (10 of 18) but Pitt hit 4 of 5 threes to keep pace. They then started the second half on a 14-3 run to open an eight-point cushion.

The Blue & Gold countered that spurt with one of its own, moving ahead 53-50 on layup by graduate forward Kia Wilson (St. George, Kan.). That capped a 13-2 stretch that featured three triples from Lincoln sophomore forward Brinly Christensen. However, Pitt was unconscious over the final 10 minutes to outscore UNK by a 31-21 margin. The Lopers whittled a 14-point hole to eight with 52 seconds left but didn't get any closer.

 

UNK ended the game 10 of 21 from downtown, it's second best showing of the year, but also went 8 of 16 at the line. Redshirt junior point guard Jillian Aschoff had a team-high 16 points, five assists and three offensive rebounds with Christensen at 11 points on 3 of 5 triple shooting. Next, Mullen senior Samantha Moore went 3 of 6 from deep to score nine and have five assists with South Dakota redshirt sophomore post Bailee Sobczak at nine points and three o-boards.

"Jill was aggressive and got downhill and wish she could've gotten a little more love at the rim tonight. Brinly was a huge spark in the third quarter after not taking a shot in the first half," said Johnson.

Besides her point total, Pyle had six defensive boards and four assists with Gerber at nine rebounds (four offensive) in just 23 minutes of work. Finally, junior guard Hannah Schreiner (16) and senior guard Syndey Holmes (12) scored double figures to help overcome the loss of injured starter Macie Mays. She is expected back soon.

"Once we did a better job on Gerber, their guards drove it down our throat," said Johnson. "They lived at our rim to start the third quarter and that set the tone."

UNK hosts Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon. The Lions (16-12, 8-8) fell tonight at No. 7 Fort Hays State, 64-55.