UNK WBB: Lopers Hold Off Chadron State

Kearney, Neb. – Super senior forward Shiloh McCool recorded her 21st career double double and Nebraska Kearney got some big contributions off the bench to grind out a 74-65 win over Chadron State Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers finish the non-conference slate with a 6-0 mark and also improve to 61-13 all-time against the Eagles (2-2).

UNK never trailed and led by as many as 15 points, 24-9, but the Eagles hung around until the end thanks to 69% shooting (9 of 13) in the third quarter, 19 points off 16 Loper turnovers and four threes. For the first time since February 2021, the Blue & Gold made just a single three pointer (1 for 8).

The game also was a bit choppy as there were 46 fouls called which led to 52 free throws. Six-three post Awoti Akoli fouled out late for CSC with eight others whistled for at least three fouls.

"We'll take the win and get out of here and learn from it," said Loper head coach Drew Johnson. "It's always better to learn from a win. I thought that was a good wakeup call for us. The goal was to start 6-0 but we have a lot of work to do."

Jumping out to an early 10-2 lead, the Lopers led 20-9 after the first quarter but CSC won the next two quarters by a combined tally of 42-38. Holding a seven-point cushion heading into the fourth, UNK saw that advantage trimmed to three, 66-63, after a bucket by Akoli. She started the day 1 for 6 from the field but went 5 for 5 in the second half to score 12.

"We made some lack of discipline mistakes tonight which is a little frustrating. We talked about no Holiday hangover, but I felt like we were a step slow," said Johnson. "We hadn't seen size like that so far this year. We may have to go back to the drawing board and decide if that's how we want to play it. I thought we got more physical with her in the late third quarter and into the fourth."

A three-point play from McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) got the lead back to six and the Eagles wouldn't get closer than four the rest of the way. A steal and layup by senior reserve guard Trinity Law (Brandon, S.D.) put the icing on the cake at 72-65 with 2:29 left.

"Because we got to the free throw line so much (35 attempts), we wanted to stay aggressive and get fouled," said Johnson. "We did have a couple of minutes in the fourth where we were slow and hesitant, but we were still able to finish it."

McCool went 8 of 12 from the field and 7 of 13 at the line to score a game-high 23 points. She also had 10 rebounds (eight defensive) and two assists in 27 minutes of work. Next, redshirt freshman post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) had 13 points, six rebounds and two assists off the bench with Law at 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting. Finally, grad post Kia Wilson (St. George, Kan.) had 12 points and six caroms.

Junior forward Ashayla Powers had a team-high 15 points for Chadron with junior guard Olivia Waufle at 10. Finally, sophomore guard Allison Olsen got close to a double double (nine points, seven rebounds).

UNK starts MIAA play Thursday night at Rogers State. The Hillcats went 5-23 (3-19) last winter but are 4-1 under new head coach Heather Davis.