February 6, 2005

Women Dominate Mines

Lopers Move into 4th^d Place

            Kearney, Neb. –   In one of its better performances of the year, the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team got a 18 points from junior center Kalee Modlin to whip Colorado School of Mines, 80-57, Saturday night in Golden.

            The contest was a match up between two teams tied for fourth place in the RMAC's East Division. UNK (11-10, 9-4 RMAC) moves ahead of Mines (14-7, 8-5 RMAC) by a full game with the win.  

            For the second straight night, UNK led from wire to wire. However, things didn't get off to a quick start as neither team scored until the 16:18 mark when  a jumper by senior Jenny Brown (Pleasanton) finally broke the ice.

            From there, UNK built a 21-4 lead as Mines couldn't find the basket, making only one of its first 11 shots from the field.

            Mines did get the Loper lead down to 11, 30-19, with 2:55 to play but the Lopers closed the half on an 8-2 run to regain momentum. 

            In the second half, the 'Diggers didn't get closer then 14 points.

            UNK achieved the 23-point win despite playing without North Platte junior Anne Manning (illness) and having Brown and Lincoln freshman Melissa Hinkley saddled with four fouls early in the second half.  Four starters played at least 31 minutes to make up the difference.

            The Lopers out shot, 44 to 36 percent, and out rebounded, 42-31, Mines on the night while also sinking 26 of 32 free throws and making eight triples.

            Scoring 18 for the second straight game, Modlin was 6 of 10 from the field and 5 of 7 at the line. She added five rebounds, four blocks and two steals.

            Omaha freshman Amy Mathis had her second double double of the year (17 points, 10 rebounds) while Lexington junior Erin Jones had 16 points and six rebounds off the bench. She also made a career-high four threes.

            Also, Leigh sophomore guard Liz Fischer had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists while backcourt mate Amber Whitlock added 10 points and three assists.

            Kim Kilmer led Mines with 11 points. Star center Ashley Gronewoller was held to eight points and two rebounds.

            The Lopers play at Metro State and Regis next weekend.