February 24, 2005

Hays Women End Kearney Jinx

Lopers Rally Falls Short

            Kearney, Neb. –   Junior Crystal Harden scored 36 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Fort Hays State women's basketball team to a 82-76 win over Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            In locking up the right to host a first round RMAC Tournament game next Wednesday, the Tigers end a 14-year, 15-game losing streak in Kearney.

            Before tonight, Hays' (21-6, 14-5) last win at UNK (13-13, 11-7 RMAC) came during the 1990-91 season when current head coach Annette Wiles was a player.

            Hays entered the game minus leading scorer and rebounder Ashlee Gustin. The sophomore was suspended by the school after throwing a hard elbow in last Saturday's win over Regis.

            A transfer from Western Nebraska C.C., Harden came into the game second on the team in scoring (10.0 pgg) and shooting 39 percent from the field.

            She could do no wrong tonight, going 14 of 23 from the field, including 2 of 4 from the three point line, and grabbing five offensive and 11 defensive rebounds.

            The 5-10 guard had 18 points in each half with 10 rebounds coming after the break.

            The last UNK opponent to score more than 30 points in the H & S Center was Colorado Christian's Tina Redmond in January 2001 (33).

            Team wise, the only big advantage the Tigers had came on the glass, where they out boarded UNK 44-26, which led to 15 second chance points.

            Down 12 points in the first half (30-18) and then by 12 points early in the second half (45-33), UNK rallied behind the strong shooting of junior Kalee Modlin and freshman Amy Mathis.

            Three triples by Mathis in a three minute span, plus a layup by North Platte junior Anne Manning, brought the Lopers within three, 51-48, with 12:54 to go.

            After Hays got its lead back to 10 points, 64-54, the Lopers whittled the lead to three once again, 65-62, after a Modlin bucket.

            UNK had an chance to get within one with 3:41 to go but Modlin misfired on a three. The Tigers then didn't allow the Lopers to get closer then four points the rest of the way.

            Modlin led the way with 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals while Colorado senior Amber Whitlock had 18 points thanks to four treys.

            Mathis had 11 of her 17 points in the second half with Manning providing 13 points and four rebounds off the bench.

            Besides Harden, guards Tia Evenson and Katie Rausch each had 10 points for the Tigers.

            UNK hosts Chadron tomorrow night.