January 29, 2005

Women's Basketball Rally Falls Short

Freshman Mathis Scores 26

            Kearney, Neb. –  The Metro State Roadrunners scored the game's first 19 points and then hung on for a 92-78 win over the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            UNK (9-10, 7-4 RMAC) has dropped four in a row while Metro (15-4, 9-2 RMAC) bounces back from an overtime loss to league leader Regis Tuesday night.

            This marks the first time since January of 1995 that the Lopers have dropped back-to-back home games. That year, Wayne State and Northern Sate handed UNK the setbacks.

            Metro led from start to finish, jumping out to a 19-0 lead six minutes into the game. UNK started the contest 0 of 8 from the field with seven turnovers.

            But, the Lopers quickly righted the ship, scoring the game's next nine points. However, Metro managed to get the lead to 15 soon after and led by 18 at the break, 49-31.

            Behind the stellar play of freshman reserve Amy Mathis (Omaha) and some threes from junior Jenny Harle (West Des Moines, Ia.), UNK mounted three second half rallies.

            The Lopers began the final half on a 20-8 run to close within six, 57-51, with 13:36 to play. Metro responded with a 6-0 run to get the momentum back but UNK got the deficit down to eight, 68-60, after a bucket by junior Kalee Modlin (Knoxville, Ia.) at the 8:09 mark.

            Once again, Metro quickly got the back into double digits. UNK's last run came with four minutes to go when back-to-back threes by Harle and Mathis started a 10-2 run that made the score 82-74 with 1:42 to go.

            Metro finally nailed the coffin shut by going 8 of 10 at the line and forcing three turnovers in the final two minutes. 

            Mathis, from Millard North, scored 21 of her game-high 26 points in the final 20 minutes. She was 11 of 18 from the field, including a 4 of 8 effort from the three point line.

            Modlin was the last Loper freshman to reach 25 points in a game, scoring 26 vs. Wayne State, Mich., two years ago.

            Harle sunk three threes in the second half to score all 11 of her points while Modlin added 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

            Six 'Runners were in double figures, led by guard Stephanie Davis with 21.

            Metro shot 53 percent from the field and sunk 23 of 29 free throws to score the most points by a Loper opponent in Kearney since the 1992-93 season (Hastings, 96). 

            The 'Runners also scored 39 points off 24 UNK turnovers and had a 22-9 edge in fast break points.