February 17, 2004

Women Hit the Century Mark in Win

Lopers Hang On for Key Win

            Kearney, NE – Five players scored in double figures to lead the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team to a 100-86 win over rival Fort Hays State Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            UNK (19-5, 13-3 RMAC) now gets ready for a showdown Thursday night with Regis. The Rangers, who sit one game behind the Lopers in the East Division standings, have beaten the blue and gold three straight times.

            Tonight, UNK led 90-66 with just over four minutes remaining when the Tigers, who haven't won in Kearney since the 1990-91 season made a final push.

            Hays (15-9, 10-6 RMAC) trailed 96-85 with 30 seconds to go when it missed a three pointer. After going 2 for 7 at the free throw line during the Tigers 19-6 run, UNK was 6 for 6 at the charity stripe in the last 30 seconds.

            Iowa sophomore center Kalee Modlin scored 25 points, one off her career high, while Fairfield junior Taryn Ninemire had 20 points and six assists off the bench.

            Modlin, who hit 10 of her first 11 shots from the floor, had 20 points in the first half. In Saturday's win over Colorado Mines, she scored 17 of her 22 points in the first 20 minutes. 

            Kearney sophomore Nicole Gruntorad added 17 points and six assists while Iowa senior Allison Kruger recorded a double double (15 points 10 boards). Finally, West Point senior Heather Steffen had 12 points, six rebounds and six assists.

            Hays made its first five shots from the field but was just 5 of 21 the rest of the first half. That allowed UNK to slowly built a lead that reached 22 at the break, 46-24.

            After Modlin dominated the paint in the first half, UNK was 7 of 12 from three point land in the second to get out to that 90-66 edge.

            While Hays tallied 62 second half points, the Lopers swatted nine shots, the second most in school history. UNK also shot a solid 47.8 percent from the three point line (11 of 23).

            This also was the second most points ever scored by a UNK team vs. Hays. The 1998 team scored 103.