March 8, 2008

Women's Basketball Advances to First RMAC Final Since 2004

Lopers Beat Metro for 3rd Time

      Kearney, Neb. – Senior forward Melissa Hinkley scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, both team-highs, and had a key assist to help the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team beat Metro State, 59-58, Friday night at the RMAC Tournament semifinals in Pueblo, Colo.

      With the one point victory, UNK improves to 26-5 and beats the Roadrunners (19-10. ) for the third time this season. The Lopers advance to the championship game tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. Central where they'll face 5^th-seed Colorado State-Pueblo (20-9).

      The Thunderwolves, the home town team but not playing in its own arena, shocked top seed and 9th-ranked Fort Lewis (26-3), 70-68 in overtime.

      UNK will be looking for its seventh tournament title but first since 2004. CSUP was a "Cinderella" team two years ago, winning the 2005-06 tournament as a sixth seed.

      Tonight against Metro, the Lopers led nearly the entire way but never by more then eight points. That eight point cushion did come, however, with 4:48 left, 50-42.

      With three minutes to play, UNK had the ball and a six point cushion, 56-50,  but Metro made one final push. Back-to-back UNK turnovers led to five Roadrunner points and suddenly the lead was down to one with 52 seconds left.

      That's when Hinkley's fourth and final assist came in handy. With the shot clock winding down, she found a wide open Jade Meads underneath the basket for an easy layup. Meads missed the ensuing free throw but Metro couldn't take advantage, missing a three and a two point shot.

      Hinkley went one of two at the line, with eight seconds left, to push the lead to four. After Metro sank a three, senior Amy Mathis missed a rare free throw but a half court heave didn't fall for the 'Runners.

      UNK shot only 43.6 percent from the field (24 of 55) and made just 7 of 13 free throws (53.8 percent). However, Metro was colder from the floor (39.3 percent) and attempted only nine free shots.

      The 'Runners did out rebound the Lopers, 40-35, including 18-13 on the offensive end.

      Hinkely (Lincoln East) made five of 11 shots to reach her point total. She also had two steals in 33 minutes of action.  Meads (Elm Creek), who has a history of haunting Metro, finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists.

      Mathis (Millard North), the RMAC's leading scorer at 18 per game, was held to eight points on 3 of 7 shooting. Not scoring until 12:59 of the second half, this marks only the fourth time this year Mathis failed to score in double digits.

      UNK overcame that by having five others score at least five points. Included in that group was junior guard Kassi Schuppe (Iliff, Colo.), who had six points, five assists and five rebounds.

      Metro was paced by forward Cassondra Bratton, who grabbed 17 rebounds and scored 14 points. Also, guard Ashley Mickens had 12 of her 13 points in the second half. Pictured below are Hinkley-Meads.