February 11, 2005

Metro Run Past Loper Women

Metro Overcomes Early Deficit

Kearney, NE —The Metro State Roadrunners forced 23 turnovers and got 37 points from Paige Powers and Stephanie Davis to beat the Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team 77-62 Friday night in Denver.

            The ‘Runners, ranked third in the North Central Region, improves to 19-4 overall and 13-2 in the RMAC while UNK sees its modest two game win streak end (11-11, 9-5 RMAC).

            The five league losses are the most a UNK team has ever had in RMAC play. 

            In first meeting between the two, Metro got out to a 19-0 and never looked back in a 92-78 win. UNK turned the tables a bit tonight, getting out to a 13-4 lead four minutes into the game.

            However, Metro outscored the Lopers 33-14 the rest of the way to grab a 10-point lead by the break.

            In the final 10 minutes of the first half, UNK had 12 turnovers and made just two shots from the field.

            UNK kept within striking distance in the second half but could never get the lead under 10 points. The Lopers last gasp came when senior Amber Whitlock (Stoneham, Colo.) made a three with 2:24 left to cut the Metro lead to 11, 68-57.

            The ‘Runners responded by making six straight free throws before UNK could score again. 

            Three players – junior center Kalee Modlin (Knoxville, Ia.), freshman Amy Mathis (Omaha) and freshman Melissa Hinkley (Lincoln) -- had 10 points apiece to lead the Lopers.

            Modlin and Mathis also grabbed eight rebounds a piece to help UNK out rebound Metro, 38-37.

            In addition to the turnovers, Metro had a huge edge at the line, making 20 of 25 free shots, compared to UNK’s 5 of 9 effort.

            Powers hit four threes and finished with a game-high 19 points while Davis had 18 points, six steals and four assists.

            The Lopers play at 25^th-ranked Regis tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. CST.