UNK WBB: Lopers Whip the Lions, 75-52

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team scored the first nine points and never looked back in a 75-52 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the only meeting this season between UNK (16-5, 9-3) and UAFS (13-8, 7-5). The Lopers move to 8-0 at home while the Lions, a first-year MIAA member, drop to 4-5 on the road.

UNK snapped a two-game losing streak by overwhelming the Lions from the opening tip. Shooting 63% (10 of 16) in the first quarter, the Lopers not only didn't trail all evening but also led by double digits for the final 28 minutes.

"We really challenged them as a group this week. Two losses on the road cannot dictate how you feel about yourself," said Loper coach Drew Johnson. "We've played great basketball, and our average margin of defeat is like 7.5 points. I thought we did a great job of taking that message, understanding what it was going to take and getting back to a little bit better execution of the scouting report."

UAFS scored 103 (double OT) and 92 (OT) points in its last two games but shot just 27% (18 of 66) tonight. That included 3 of 25 from deep with 20 turnovers leading to 21 Lopers points.

Individually, Lincoln junior point guard Jillian Aschoff again flirted with a triple double (16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists) with four others in double figures. That included Kansas sophomore reserve Jordan Sears (15) and Iowa freshman Alex Flattery (11). She replaced an ailing Samantha Moore in the starting lineup tonight.

"Jill is playing in a way that makes everyone around her better. Sometimes we think that's passing and all the creativity she has with the ball in her hands. But right now, she's scoring it so well," said Johnson. "If you go to the tape, in the first quarter, they sagged on her and helped against the five. We got downhill and she was able to finish. In the second quarter, they couldn't sag anymore, they are pressing so the five is running down the middle of the floor and we're getting layups."

Sears and Iowa graduate Meg Burns both went 3 of 6 from deep with Flattery grabbing seven boards and Aschoff having 11 of her caroms coming on the defensive end. Burns (803) is now the 43rd Loper to reach 800-career points with Kansas graduate post Kia Wilson (10) 4 of 5 from the field and 4 of 4 at the line.

"Alex absolutely played her tail off and was really, really good. Didn't look nervous at the beginning and got close to a double double," said Johnson. "Jordan was good too. When you don't have Sam, you knew those two were going to have to take most of those minutes"

The Lions were paced by true freshman forward Anna Trusty (13 points, 12 rebounds) and reserve Daijah Smith (13 points, five rebounds).

UNK hosts Northeastern State Saturday afternoon, and this will be the "National Women's Girls & Women's Sports Day" annual game. The program will hold a youth clinic in Cushing Coliseum during the morning.