February 18, 2005

Women's Basketball Gets Critical Win

Big Second Half Propels Lopers; Season-Low in Turnovers

            Kearney, Neb. –   Junior center Kalee Modlin and freshman forward Amy Mathis combined for 31 second half points as the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team rallied for a crucial 73-62 win over Colorado School of Mines Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            With the win, UNK (12-12, 10-6 RMAC) moves within a half game of the Orediggers (17-8, 11-6 RMAC) for fourth place in the East Division.

            UNK also stays in the hunt for the right to host an RMAC Tournament first round game. 

            Mines was poised to beat the blue and gold for only the second time in 25 all-time meetings. The 'Diggers shot better from the field, 45 to 38 percent, and also won the battle on the glass, 41-30.

            However, UNK was 26 of 30 at the line, compared to 3 of 6 for Mines, and committed a season-low 11 turnovers. The Lopers also tallied 24 points off 20 Mines miscues.

            Earlier this year in a 80-57 win at Mines, UNK was 26 of 32 at the line.

            Despite nine turnovers and 24 percent shooting from the field (6 of 25), UNK was down by just eight points at the break, 31-23.

            Things changed 180 degrees in the second half as the Lopers shot 50 percent from the field, including a 5 of 8 effort from the three point line. Maybe more importantly, UNK had only two turnovers the final 20 minutes with one coming in the closing seconds.

            UNK began the second half an a 14-9 run to get within three, 40-37, with 15:22 to go. The two teams would go back and forth for the next eight minutes before five straight points by Mathis gave UNK the lead for good.

            Her triple tied the contest at 55 all with 7:26 to go and then her jumper 19 seconds later started a 12-2 run that put away Mines.

            During this stretch, Mines center Ashley Gronewoller, the team's leading scorer on the year, fouled out. At the end of UNK's run, Gronewoller's backup, Angela Pearson, was called for her fifth foul.

            A total of thirty four fouls were called in the contest with eight different players having at least three fouls.

            Recording her fifth double double of the year, Modlin (Knoxville, Ia.) had 18 of her game-high 20 points in the second half. She also had eight of her game-high 11 rebounds in the final 20 minutes.

            She also had four steals, four assists and three blocks.

            Mathis (Millard North) had 13 of her 19 points in the second half. Going 8 for 8 at the line, she also pulled down eight rebounds.

            On the perimeter, Colorado senior Amber Whitlock tallied 15 points and had five assists.

            Five 'Diggers reached double figuers, led by Gronewoller with 15. Kristin Horkey had 11 of her 12 points in the first half while Kim Kilmer and Gina Cornelio each added 10.

            UNK hosts Colorado Christian tomorrow night.