November 30, 2004

Women’s Basketball Rally Falls Short

Lopers Lose at Wayne

            Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team almost came back from a 22-point second half deficit but the rally fall short as the Lopers lost at Wayne State, 83-65, Tuesday night in Wayne.

            The Wildcats improve to 5-1 on the year while UNK falls to 1-4.

            Down 44-27 at the break, UNK found themselves behind by a 51-29 score with 17:40 to play. Back-to-back buckets by Leigh sophomore Liz Fischer got the Lopers comeback going and with 6:41 to play, Wayne was ahead by only a 66-63 count.

            The 34-15 UNK run was capped by a two-minute, 10-0 spurt. Lincoln freshman Melissa Hinkley scored six of her 10 points in this run with her last two buckets cutting the Wayne lead to three points.

            However, the ‘Cats out scored UNK 16-2 the rest of the way.

            Former Loper Nicole Gruntorad, who had 23 of her game high 30 points in the second half, scored all seven of Wayne’s points in a three minute stretch to give the ‘Cats a 73-65 lead.

            Wayne then scored the game’s final 10 points as UNK went 0-4 from the field and had four turnovers in the final four minutes.

            Wayne out shot UNK from the field, 56 to 34 percent, and also won the rebounding war, 38-32. The Lopers did have a season-low 16 turnovers while forcing 22 Wayne turnovers.

            Fischer tallied a season-high 16 points and had four steals in 34 minutes while senior Amber Whitlock (Stoneham, Colo.) and juniors Kalee Modlin (Knoxville, Ia.) and Anne Manning (North Platte) joined Hinkley in scoring 10 points on the night. 

            Gruntorad was 9 of 13 from the field, including a 4 for 5 effort from the three point line. Two other ‘Cats were in double figures, including Erin McCormick (13), who added a team-high 11 rebounds as well.

            UNK’s six game road trip continues with games at Minnesota State-Moorhead (Friday) and nationally-ranked North Dakota (Sunday) this weekend.