February 29, 2008

Women's Basketball Advances in RMAC Tourament

Lopers Beat Regis for Third Time

      Kearney, Neb. – Five players were in double figures, led by 24 from senior Amy Mathis, to help the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team beat Regis, 85-71, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

      An RMAC Tournament first round game, UNK (25-5) now advances to the semifinals next Friday (March 7^th) in Pueblo, Colo. The second-seeded Lopers will play third-seed Metro State, an 88-60 winner over Adams State tonight, at 7:00 p.m. Central.

      Regis, mean while, finishes the year at 14-14.

      In a game of big runs, UNK finished the contest shooting 51.2 percent from the field (30 of 58) and 71.4 percent (20 of 28) at the line. And for the second straight game, the Lopers kept the turnovers at a minimum, having a season-low nine.

      Despite the strong offense, the Lopers found them selves down 12-6 six minutes into the game. However, 13 minutes later UNK was rolling along, leading 41-26 and seemingly in control of things.

      But, Regis finished the half on an 11-2 run, then started the second half on a 11-6 spurt to trail by only one point, 49-48.

      Like the first half, the Lopers bounced back and regain the momentum, eventually leading by a 71-59 count with 6:33 left to play. Regis didn't go down quietly as seniors Stevi Seitz (21 points, seven rebounds) and Breanne Burley (nine assists, six points) helped the Rangers make one more run.

      A Kammy Martindale jumper made it a six point deficit with 4:35 on the clock, 73-66, and then Paullina Tuell had a chance to cut the lead to five about a minute later but missed a layup.

      Tuell, a transfer from Air Force, didn't miss much, scoring a team-high 22 points on 10 of 13 shooting.

      After the Tuell miss, UNK scored the next four points and then sunk a bunch of free throws to secure the program's 27^th RMAC Tournament win.

      Mathis (Millard North), the RMAC Player of the Year, went 6 of 10 from the floor (3 of 4 threes) and 9 of 10 at the line to reach her point total. She also pulled down 10 rebounds, making this year ninth double double double of the season.

      Junior Jade Meads (Elm Creek) hoisted up 17 shots and finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists with fellow starting guard Kassi Schuppe (Iliff, Colo.) at 10 points on 4 of 4 field goal shooting.

      Finally, Lincoln senior Melissa Hinkley had 14 points, four rebounds and three steals with junior post Ashlee Schneider (10 points, 7 rebounds) having a big effort off the bench.