March 12, 2004

Women’s Season Ends

Lopers Fall to Defending Champs

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball saw its season end Friday night, March 12^th, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in St. Paul, Minn. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits, defending national champions, beat the Lopers, 67-56.

UNK ends its season at 25-6 while SDSU improved to 24-6. The ‘Jacks went on to beat Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) and North Dakota to win the region and will play at the Elite Eight March 24-27 in St. Joseph, Mo.

The Lopers shot below 40 percent (37.0) from the floor for the third straight game. In the season’s first 28 games, UNK had been below only 40 percent once. That was in the season opener against the same Jackrabbits (35.7). .

UNK actually out shot the ‘Jacks in the first half, 30.4 to 27.8, as SDSU was 1 of 14 from the three point line. The Lopers scored the game’s first four points but SDSU managed a 23-19 halftime edge.

UNK held its last lead of the game, 16-12, with 8:04 left in the half. SDSU scored nine straight to move ahead and wouldn’t trail the rest of the night.

SDSU quickly found its shooting touch as they were 7 of 13 from the three point line in the final 20 minutes. That helped them shoot nearly 52 percent for the half.

The ‘Jacks went ahead by 13 points early in the second half but UNK came back and trailed by only eight, 36-28, after a Kalee Modlin bucket with 13:58 to play. However, SDSU went on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to open up a 20-point lead.

During the decisive run, SDSU made four of its seven second half three pointers.

The Lopers didn’t give up, however, cutting the SDSU lead to 10, 66-56, with a minute to play after a Modlin layup. SDSU then took a quick shot but UNK missed a shot that would have brought them within eight with about 30 seconds to play.

Modlin, playing only 27 minutes due to foul trouble, had 17-second half points to finish with a team-high 23. She also had seven rebounds, thee blocks and three steals.

In her final game as a Loper, senior Allison Kruger had 13 points and eight rebounds. She fouled out with around six minutes left in the game and was one of four UNK starters to have at least four fouls.

With her effort tonight, Kruger moves into a tie with Jessica Kedrowski for second place on the UNK career scoring list (1,689 points). She also is fourth in Loper lore in both rebounds (788) and blocks (91).

Also, West Point senior Heather Steffen, with nine rebounds, becomes the first Loper to surpass 900 in a career. She finishes with 906 career rebounds.

Brenda Davis was one of four ‘Jacks in double figures, leading the team with 17 points.