UNK Women Snag Home Win Over NW Missouri State 71-64

Redshirt junior point guard Jillian Aschoff scored 19 points and senior wing Samantha Moore had her second straight double double to help lift Nebraska Kearney over Northwest Missouri State, 71-64, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (12-3, 5-1) sweep the season series from the Bearcats (9-8, 2-5) to now lead the all-time series, 18-9.

UNK trailed 30-26 at the break but used a big third quarter, 26-15, to move ahead. They shot 73% (8 of 11) in the first 10 minutes of the second half but couldn’t pull away as they sunk just 8 of 13 free throws.

“In the third quarter we created more flow in transition. We fouled them a few too many times in the quarter but we really created an up and down pace which is to our advantage,” said UNK head coach Drew Johnson. “We were able to drive it on a broken floor. When the floor is set, Northwest is one of the best defensive teams in the country. When it’s broken, you have some advantages you can try and take.”

Northwest hung around thanks to the heroics of fifth-year senior guard Molly Hartnett who went for 28 points, six assists and six rebounds. Down nine late in the third quarter, the ‘Cats trimmed the deficit to two midway through the fourth and then to three on two other occasions. However, the Lopers had a response each time, sinking six of their last eight free throws and getting two paint buckets from veteran post Kia Wilson (St. George, Kan.).

Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) reached her team-best point total by making 8 of 10 free throws and sinking five shots. She also had five rebounds and three assists with Moore (Mullen) at 11 rebounds and 18 points. She went 3 for 3 from deep with two of the shots helping UNK claw its way back into things.

“Those two threes Samantha hit were deep; it was 20-12 and we needed them,” said Johnson. “When she plays like that, with a chip on her shoulder, she’s a hard guard.”

Six others were between two and nine points including junior reserve point guard Saniya Simmons (Olathe, Kan.) and sophomore reserve post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.). The 5-2 Simmons blocked a late three-point attempt by Northwest with Sobczak having eight boards and eight points.

“Rotating out and getting that block was fantastic and I thought Saniya played well tonight. She played a bunch of minutes and was dynamic defensively against Emporia State (last Saturday night) and we’re going to need her a ton this season,” said Johnson.

Besides Hartnett, Northwest got 13 points from junior Emree Zars and 10 points from graduate guard Caely Kesten. She was one of three ‘Cats to foul out late. UNK finished 19 of 28 at the line and was plus 11 on the glass with NW having just six turnovers.

UNK hosts Missouri Western State on Saturday. The Griffons (11-4, 6-1) won at No. 7 Fort Hays State tonight, 70-69.