Loper Women Roll In Opener

The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team sunk 13 three pointers and got a career effort from senior Samantha Moore to dominate Minnesota-Crookston, 99-53, Friday afternoon in Aberdeen, S.D.

This was the season-opener for both the Lopers and Golden Eagles. UNK will play tourney host Northern State Saturday at 5 p.m.; the Wolves fell to 13th-ranked Pittsburg State, 85-55, in today's early game.  

UNK scored the game's first six points and never looked back. Shooting 54% (38 of 71) from the field, the Lopers also were plus 16 on the glass and took advantage of 24 UMC turnovers. The Golden Eagles were picked 12th out of 15 teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) preseason poll.

Moore (Mullen) had her best game as a Loper and did so in just 21 minutes of work. She scored a career-high 19 points while also having a career-high eight assists, four steals and three rebounds. She made 7 of 9 shots (3 of 4 threes) and was one of six Lopers to sink a shot from downtown. Moore's previous best offensive performance was 16 points against Fort Hays State this past January.

This is the second time UNK has made 13 treys against Crookston; they first did it a Nov. 2021 victory in Maryville, Mo. The tally, in only 27 attempts, is tied for 15th most in school history and is the fifth most against a D2 opponent.

Kansas sophomore reserve Jordan Sears also had a career-high 19 points as she was 6 of 9 from the floor (3 for 4 threes) and scored 12 in the fourth. Going 4 for 4 at the line, her previous career-high point was 16 against Central Christian last November.

Next, Kansas graduate forward Kia Wilson had 12 points, Lincoln redshirt junior point guard Jillian Aschoff had 10 rebounds, six points, five steals and five assists with Iowa graduate wing Meg Burns at 11 points and three offensive boards. Finally, Iowa true freshman reserve guard Alex Flattery had eight points and five rebounds in her collegiate debut.