February 13, 2005

Women Fall to No. 25 Regis

Rangers Overcome Early 15 Point Hole

            Kearney, NE —The 25^th-ranked Regis University Rangers made 12 three pointers and overcame an early 15 point deficit to beat the Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team, 77-65, Saturday night in Denver.

            Regis (19-4, 14-1 RMAC) bounces back from its first RMAC loss of the year while UNK falls to 11-12 (9-6 RMAC) on the season.

            The 12 setbacks are the most by a Loper team since the 1992-93 season (12).

            Like Friday night at Metro, UNK dominated the first 10 minutes of the game. The Lopers grabbed 16 of the game’s first 17 rebounds and were 9 of 17 from the floor to get out to a 23-8 lead.

            However, Regis almost had an identical run – 22-7 –  in the final 10 minutes of the half to have the score knotted at 30 by the break.

            Like the Metro game, cold shooting from the field (1 of 12) and turnovers (seven) hurt UNK in the final 10 minutes of the first half.  

            Regis quickly took control of things early in the second half, going on a 28-10 run to open up an 18 point lead, 58-40, lead by the 11 minute mark.

            Down 70-56 with just under five to play, the Lopes had several chances to get the Regis lead under 10 points but neither team scored for nearly three minutes.

            UNK dominated the glass, 47-32, but 22 turnovers offset that advantage. The Lopers also shot 36 percent from the field, compared to 43 percent for Regis. 

            Omaha freshman Amy Mathis led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds. She sunk three triples in the game and had five offensive rebounds.

            The 19 points by the Millard North grad are her second most this year, trailing only a 26 point effort vs. Metro State in January.  

            Colorado senior Amber Whitlock had 14 points and four rebounds with junior Kalee Modlin (Knoxville, Ia.) and Melissa Hinkley (Lincoln) each scoring 11 points a piece.

            Diana Lopez, the leading scorer in the RMAC, sunk five three pointers to lead Regis with 22 points while Lindsay Viall had four triples and finished with 20 points.

            UNK hosts Colorado Christian and Colorado School of Mines next weekend.