January 31, 2004

Women's Basketball Wins Defensive Struggle

Kruger, Manning Key Loper Victory over Mines

            Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team held Colorado School of Mines to seven points over the final 10 minutes of the game to rally past the Orediggers, 62-58, Saturday night in Golden.

             UNK (16-3, 10-1 RMAC) will remain the league's top team while Mines falls to 9-10 (7-4 RMAC). They came into the game tied for second place in the East Division.

            A Heather Hoops bucket put Mines ahead 51-45 with just over 10 minutes left on the clock. UNK responded with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to grab a 56-53 lead. During the decisive run, senior Allison Kruger scored nine of her team-high 18 points.

            Neither team scored for the next five minutes as two of the best defensive units in the RMAC dug in. Mines finally broke through as they got a put back bucket from center Ashley Gronewoller with 42 ticks left.

            After junior guard Amber Whitlock made one of two free throws with 39 seconds left, sophomore forward Anne Manning stole the ball with 21 seconds showing on the clock. Kruger hit one of two free throws to put UNK ahead by three, 58-55, with 14 seconds to go and then Manning rebounded a missed shot by Mines.

            The North Platte southpaw finished the game's scoring with four straight free throws. She ended the night with 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the field.

            Sophomore center Kalee Modlin was the Loper in double digits, tallying 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Also, senior Heather Steffen played all 40 minutes and had four points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists.

            In a fairly even game statically, UNK had a big edge in field goal percentage, 50.0 to 39.3.

            Gronewoller lead Mines with 19 points and eight rebounds. She was the only 'Digger in double figures.