January 28, 2005

Cold Shooting Dooms Women's Basketball

Third Ever Home RMAC Loss

            Kearney, Neb. –   The Regis Rangers got 24 points and nine rebounds from sophomore Denise Lopez and dominated the second half to beat the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team, 76-54, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            This is just the Lopers' (9-9, 7-3 RMAC) third ever home RMAC loss (102-3) and only its sixth home loss since January 31^st, 1995 (131-6). In addition, this is the first time UNK has loss three straight RMAC games.

            The No. 1 ranked team in the North Central Region, Regis (16-3, 11-0 RMAC) remains perfect in league play and extends its win streak to six  games.

            After shooting a season-low 32.7 percent Saturday at Fort Hays State, UNK shot 32.2 percent tonight, in addition to tying it season high in turnovers (28).

            Most of the problems occurred in the second half where UNK was just 7 of 31 from the field (22.6 percent) and had 17 turnovers.

            Regis, which shot 50 percent for the game (28 of 56), out scored the Lopers 40-19 after the break.

            Two threes by guard Cappie Smith (eight points) in the final 40 seconds gave Regis a one point lead, 36-35, heading into the locker room.

            UNK came out frigid in the second half, missing its first 11 shots from the field and scoring only four points in the first eight minutes.

            Despite the offensive drought, UNK trailed by just seven points, 49-42, after a three by junior Jenny Harle (West Des Moines, Ia.) with 10:23 to play.

            But another offensive drought followed as the Lopers didn't score again until the 5:41 mark. In that span, Regis scored 13 straight points to open up a 20 point lead.

            Lopez came into the game with only 13 made threes to her credit but she was 5 of 9 from behind the arc tonight. She also led Regis in rebounds and steals (six).

            Regis needed this offensive output as Diana Lopez, the RMAC's scoring leader at over 19 a game, was in foul trouble most of the contest. She finished with 12 points in 22 minutes.

            Omaha freshman Amy Mathis was the only Loper to reach double digits, scoring 13 points on 4 of 9 shooting. She also added five rebounds in 21 minutes.

            Lincoln freshman Melissa Hinkley added seven points, six rebounds and four steals while Leigh sophomore Liz Fischer netted seven points and grabbed three rebounds.

            Also for Regis, Lindsay Viall had 14 points and seven rebounds.