January 16, 2005

Brown, Modlin Lead Women’s Basketball

Lopers Sweep West Division

Kearney, NE — Senior center Jenny Brown had a season-high 16 points and junior center Kalee Modlin added 12 to lead the Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball to a 78-66 win at New Mexico Highlands Saturday night in Las Vegas, N.M.

            UNK (9-6, 7-0 RMAC), winners of eight in a row, sweep the West Division on the year. Highlands, leaders of the West, fall to 6-6 on the year (3-4 RMAC).

            As in its previous three games, the Lopers got out to a double digit halftime lead and then managed to stave off a second half rally by the opposition.

            Down 39-28 at the break, the Cowgirls managed to cut the Loper lead to five, 62-57, with just over six minutes remaining.

            Iowa junior reserve Jenny Harle hit a three to push the lead to eight and Highlands wouldn’t get closer then seven points for the next three minutes.

            Highlands last run came when Lindsay Smith made a layup with 2:59 left to make the score 70-65. UNK missed its next two shots but the Lopers also forced two Cowgirls turnovers.            

            In a span of about 25 seconds, Brown then went 4 for 4 at the line, pushing the lead to nine and Highlands never threatened again.

            A native of Plesanton and a transfer from Oklahoma State, Brown was 6 of 10 from the field and sunk those four free throws to reach her point total. In just 15 minutes of work, she also had three rebounds and a steals.

            Modlin was 4 of 11 from the floor but recorded her third double double (12 points, 10 rebounds) on the season while Omaha freshman forward Amy Mathis (11 points, five boards) had another strong game off the bench.  

            Harle, a transfer from Des Moines Area C.C. who has been slowed by injury all year, had her most productive game. She tallied a season-best nine points on 3 of 6 shooting from the three point line.

            UNK managed the win despite shooting 30 percent (10 of 33) from the field in the second half. The Lopers did sink 25 of 30 free throws and out rebounded Highlands, 52-43.

            Senior Tara Podpah had a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Cowgirls.

            UNK plays at Chadron State next Thursday and then goes to Fort Hays State next Saturday.