January 21, 2004

Seniors Lead Women's Basketball

Short Handed Lopers Win by 23

            Kearney, NE – Led by double doubles from seniors Allison Kruger and Heather Steffen, the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team beat Metro State, 83-60, Wednesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            UNK, which improves to 13-3 and 7-1 in the RMAC, dressed only seven players tonight. Four are out with injury while junior reserve guard Amber Whitlock was with her family after the death of her twin sister, Andrea, Monday in Colorado. The team was also mourning the loss of sophomore Anne Manning's grandfather, who passed away this weekend.  

            An emotional Loper team took control of things midway through the first half, out scoring Metro 18-5 in the last eight minutes to lead 45-30 at intermission. During a five minute span in that run, UNK was 8 of 9 from the field.

            The Lopers started the second half just as hot, out scoring the 'Runners 13-4 in the first five minutes to lead by 24 points, 58-34. Metro (5-11, 3-5 RMAC) never got the lead under 20 points after that.

            Kruger, going 10 of 13 from the field, had 20 of her season-high 26 points in the first half. The effort was just five points shy of her career high. She also pulled down 11 rebounds, the fourth time in the last five game she has reached double digits in that category.

            Steffen had a team-best 14 rebounds and added 11 points and four assists. Manning had 12 second half points to finish with 16. She also grabbed eight rebounds to help the blue and gold dominate the glass, 46-32.

            Also, junior Taryn Ninemire had a team-high six assists and 11 points.

            Stephanie Davis paced Metro with 15 points.

            Chadron State visits Kearney tomorrow.