November 15, 2004

Women’s Basketball Wins in Last Seconds

Lopers Nip Mavericks, 52-50

            Kearney, Neb. – North Platte junior forward Anne Manning hit a layup with 11 seconds left to lift the Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team to a 52-50 win over in-state rival Nebraska-Omaha Monday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            Guard LaCheryl Prince had a chance to give UNO its second win over UNK in the last 13 years but her three pointer at the buzzer was well off the mark.

            The season opener for both, UNK has now beaten the Mavericks five straight times and leads the all-time series, 16-7.

            UNK led all night long but could never put away a UNO team in its’ first game under former Fort Lewis head coach Patty Patton Shearer.

            Down 48-40 with 8:12 to go, the Mavs went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 50 all with 38 seconds left.  A Lindsey Peterson three pointer capped the UNO comeback.

            After UNK called a timeout, the Lopers worked the ball into All-American center Kalee Modlin (Knoxville, Ia.), who finished the game with a double double (18 points, 10 rebounds).

            Three UNO defenders converged on Modlin but she found a wide open Manning (nine points, five rebounds) underneath the basket for the easy score.

            Moldin, who needs 51 points to reach 1,000 for her career, had 13 points, six rebounds and three steals in the second half alone.

            The only other Loper in double figures was senior guard Amber Whitlock (Stoneham, Colo.). She scored a career-high 14 points, thanks to a 3-5 effort from the three-point line.

            A defensive struggle throughout, UNO started the game 1 of 16 from the field with the Lopers only slightly better, going 2 for 11.

            Both teams shot under 30 percent in the first half and were both under 35 percent for the game.

            J.J. Smith led UNO with 15 points and 10 rebounds while guard Karen Thies had 11 rebounds, five assists and four points.