Story by UNK Athletic Communications
Kearney, Neb. – Senior wing Samantha Moore grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and was one of nine players to score as Nebraska Kearney held off Central Oklahoma, 55-48, Thursday night in Edmond.
The Lopers (14-3, 7-1) win a fifth straight game, hand the Bronchos (4-14, 3-6) a fifth straight loss and take a fifth straight game in the series. This is the only meeting between the two this year.
UNK led from start to finish but had to hang as UCO senior reserve Karly Wadsworth sunk four threes and the Lopers missed five free throws in the fourth quarter. That allowed the ‘Chos to cut a 42-25 deficit to five with 28 seconds left. They could’ve gotten even closer but 6-2 senior Jordyn Turner missed a three and then Moore (Mullen) went 2 for 2 at the line with 20 seconds left. Turner is now 11 of 15 (73%) from the triple line this winter.
“I didn’t think we guarded right in the fourth quarter. Obviously, Wadsworth got hot and did what she’s capable of doing,” said UNK head coach Drew Johnson on the KRVN Radio post-game show. “But our attention to deal in the fourth quarter wasn’t good enough. We didn’t close it the way we needed to.”
UNK held UCO to just 25 points and nine field goals over the first three quarters. However, a 15-point lead entering the fourth could’ve been bigger as the Lopers had 20 turnovers for a second straight game and went 6 of 24 (25%) from behind the arc.
“Twenty turnovers are too many. Nine assists and 20 turnovers … we tried to play finesse around their athleticism instead of ball fake and deliver,” said Johnson. “Disappointed in that because we had a chance to bury them, and we didn’t. But credit to UCO for their run at the end.”
Wadsworth came in shooting only 23% (15 of 67) from downtown but the veteran shooter finally got hot when it mattered most. Freshman reserve Alex Flattery (Sioux City) countered the explosion by hitting two threes of her own to make the score 47-33 and then 50-35.
“She (Alex) was not afraid of the moment and not fazed when the physicality ramped up in the fourth quarter,” said Johnson. “Her minutes were big tonight”
UNK was plus 13 on the glass with Moore leading the way. She had four offensive and 12 defensive caroms with her overall total three shy of tying Shiloh McCool’s record. Next, sophomore reserve post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) added six more boards with junior point guard Jillian Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) at five.
“Sam’s boards were huge and she’s really rebounding it well this year (7.6 per game). Not sure that was on my bingo card at the start of the year,” said Johnson.
Aschoff had a team-high 10 points, her third straight game in double figures. She was 5 of 9 from the field and joined junior reserve Saniya Simmons (Olathe, Kan.) as Lopers with three assists. Finally, Flattery was 3 of 3 from the field to have nine points with Moore at seven.
For the ‘Chos, Wadsworth (14) and senior guard LayKysia Johnson (17) combined for 31 points. Before fouling out late, Johnson made six shots and five freebies with Wadsworth 4 of 7 from deep.
UNK is at Rogers State on Saturday afternoon. The Hillcats (7-11, 1-8) fell tonight to No. 11 Fort Hays State, 60-50.