January 23, 2005

Tigers Shut Down Women's Basketball

Lopers Drop Second Straight

            Kearney, Neb. –  The Fort Hays State Tigers held Nebraska-Kearney to 32 percent shooting from the field to beat the Lopers, 66-52, Saturday night in Hays, Kans.

            UNK (9-8, 7-2 RMAC) losses its second straight league game while the Tigers (13-1, 8-1 RMAC) are now in second place in the East Division.

            The Lopers have lost only 20 RMAC regular season games in its history but seven of them (35 percent) have come in Gross Memorial Coliseum.

            Down three at the half, UNK was just 6 of 24 (25 percent) from the field in the second half and made just 17 of 52 shots on the night (32.7 percent).

             Hays came into the game leading the league in field goal percentage defense at 34.4 percent.

            Compounding things, the Lopers were 11 of 19 at the line in the final 20 minutes (58 percent) and were out rebounded for the game, 48-32.

            Despite its offensive troubles, UNK trailed by just eight points, 48-40, with 9:21 to go. Hays would score just six points in the next four minutes but the Lopers didn't score any, going 0-5 from the field and 0-3 at the line.

            Hays made only 36 percent of its field goal attempts on the night but sunk 19 of 23 free throws and were 5 of 7 behind the arc.

            After scoring 37 points Thursday at Chadron Sate, North Platte junior Anne Manning had a team-high 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field. She also had a team-high seven rebounds.

            Junior center Kalee Modlin (Knoxville, Ia.) was the only other Loper in double digits, scoring 14 points on 4 of 10 shooting. She also had four rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks.

            Freshman guard Tia Evenson was one of three Tiers in double figures, leading with 15 points.

            UNK hosts Regis and Metro State next weekend.